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HISTORY 



OF THE 



KNAGGS FAMILY 



Of Ohio and Michigan. 



Historical, Biographical and 
Genealogical. 



Edited by 
ROBERT B. ROSS. 



DETROIT. 

CLARENCE M. BURTON, Publisher. 

1902. 






Prrnlefl by 

CHARLES M. RODSSEAU & SONS, 

Detroit. 



HISTORY OF THE KNAGQS FAMILY 



By R. B. ROSS. 



The record of the Knaggs family of Ohio and Michigan is a part of the history of the northwest. Spring- 
ing from English and Dutch forbears, its descendants represent the best traits of both races, and as patriots 
in war and good citizens in peace they are the peers of any contemporary family in these states. The 
Knaggs are a virile race, and although they are now found in every grade of society, their distinguishing 
characteristics — courage, perseverance and integrity^are as pronounced today as in the perilous times of 
the Indian wars and the war of 1812. The following record is historical, biographical and genealogical, 
commencing with the progenitors and aiming to include the youngest descendants. Every care has been 
taken to insure correctness, but in such works there are very few which are absolutely perfect. Much of 
the genealogy could not be obtained from records, and if errors are found they can hardly be blamed on the 
compiler. 

THE WAR-SWEPT VALLEY OF THE MAUMEE. 

FALtEN TinecRS _^ Anausr, 

uaVNtS VICTOBV AUSW .*^^ ^ 

1790 -. DuDLEvi otftnr 




This map shows the location of I^orf Miami, in the vicinity of which a majority of the first generation of the 
Knaggs family were born; also the points of interest in the Indian wars and the war of 1S12. Also the loca- 
tion of Whitmore Knaggs's grant of 4.000 arpents in 1784. 



The genesis of the Knaggs family of 
Michigan and Ohio was In the Mau- 
mee valley and on the river of the 
same name, near the site of Fort Mi- 
ami, which is about nine miles from 
the new courthouse of Toledo. This 
fegion was probably never inhabited 
before 1760. A few years ago a re- 
tired journalist, named Knapp. pub- 
lished a history of the Maumee val- 
ley, in which it was asserted that a 
French trading post had been estab- 
lished above Toledo as early as 1684, 
and that a fort had been erected there 
which was garrisoned by a small force 
of French soldiers. This statement 
created considerable interest in To- 
ledo among students of the history 
of the northwest, as the authorities 
he adduced were at least plausible. 
But research developed no corrobora- 
tive facts. It is now believed that 
this statement is a mere invention, 
and that there was no white settle- 



ment there before the fall of Quebec. 
The valley was the scene of 
armed strife in the Indian wars that 
succeeded the revolution, and also in 
the war of 1812-15, and the members 
of the family during those periods 
were in the very center of war's 
alarms. It was here that the pro- 
genitor of the family, George Knaggs, 
an Englishman of good family, brought 
his wife in 1760. He was born in Eng- 
land, of English parents, his mother 
being a native of Wales. Tradition says 
that he was originally a sea-faring 
man. though in what capacity is not 
stated; also that he was a friend and 
protege of Sir William Johnson, and 
that he was an officer in the British 
army. No proofs or records, however, 
can be found to support these two lat- 
ter statements. He married Rachel 
Sly in Philadelphia. She was of Hol- 
land Dutch extraction, and was a na- 
tive of the Mohawk valley in New 
York state. The date of their marriage 



Is not known, but It was probably in 
the same year (1760), that they came to 
the Maumee valley. 

Quebec was captured during the pre- 
vious year and the sovereignty of the 
northwest had passed under British 
rule. Detroit, which had been under 
French rule since 1701. surrendered to 
a British force in 1760. the year follow- 
ing the fall of Quebec. These events 
brought many people into what had 
previously been French territory. 

BECOMES AN INDI.\N TRADER. 
At that time the only gainful occu- 
pation in the west was the Indian 
trade, and in this George Knaggs and 
his wife engaged. The country was a 
wilderness and they were surrounded 
by Indians, who. however, were gen- 
erally friendly. The Indian trade was 
all barter, there being little money in 
circulation. The goods sold to the In- 
dians, namely, muskets, powder, balls, 
blankets, kettles, fire-water, knives, 
beads, trinkets, silver ornaments, etc.. 



THE KNAGGS PROGENITORS. 



which had been previously procured by 
the French traders from Quebec and 
Montreal, were now mostly procured 
from Fort Orange, now Albany. N. Y., 
which became the groat center of the 
Indian trade of the west. The goods 
offered for exchange by the Indians 
were almost invariably furs, although 
occasionally maple sugar in the form 
of mococks was offered. 

In 1768 George Knaggs was in De- 
troit, and evidently was one of a syn- 
dicate composed of himself, Robert 
Henry, John Farrel and James Ab- 
bott. The four bought a lot •ISxW feet 
on St. Anne street, on the corner of 
Campau alley. St. Anne street was 
then 20 feet wide, and ran between 
■what is now Wayne street to Grlswold 
street, and was all on what is now 
Jefferson avenue. The lot was situat- 
ed about the center of Jefferson ave- 
nue, 200 feet west of Grlswold street. 
Of course it was purchased to erect a 
building for store purposes, but no 
record of his venture exists. He prob- 
ably returned to Maumee soon after, 
as his wife and children were there 
until 1794. 

HE WAS NO FIGHTER. 
Nothing Is known of George Knaggg 
or his wife during the revolutionary 
war or during the conspiracy of Pon- 
tlac. Eight children were born to 
them between 1763 and 17S4. and It Is 
almost certain that George and his 
wife simply continued their occupation 
and made money. Had the head 
of the /amily been engaged In 
the revolutionary war It Is more 
than likely that the fact would 
have been known by his descendants 
or recorded in history. The tradition 
of the family Is that he was quite aris- 
tocratic In his Ideas and objected to 
his daughters doing any household 
work. "There are servants for such 
things." he Is credited with saying. 
His wife, however, was a prudent, 
careful manager, with great force of 
character, and was the business head 
of the matrimonial firm. Sne was also 
educated and was even versed in Latin, 
an uncommon accompll.shment for la- 
dies in those or any other days. Her 
first child. Whitmore Knaggs. horn in 
1763, first went to school In his own 
home and was taught Latin and Dutch 
by her. as well as the elementary 
branches of education. 

EIGHT CHILDREN. 
The eight children of Georire Knaggs 
and Rachel Sly were all born on the 
Maumee river, or Miami, as It was 
called. Most of them were baptized 
at the Huron Jesuit mission at Sand- 
wich, Ont., opposite Detroit, but of 
some there are no records either of 
birth or death. George Knaggs was 
probaby either a protestant or an In- 
differentlst, but his wife was a strict 
catholic, and the children were all 
reared in that belief In childhood. 
Some of them, however, became prot- 
estants in after years. In regard to 
the word Miami. It may be explained 
that the Indians always pronounced It 
Maumee. There were three rivers of 
that name— the Great Miami and the 
Little Miami, both oif which flow into 
the Ohio river, and the Miami of the 
Lakes, which flows Into Lake Erie- 
The name of the Miami of the Lakes 



was afterward changed to Maumee, 
and It was on its shore that the 
Knaggs family had Its origin. As the 
family is now numerous and wide- 
spread It may be well to set down the 
names of the first generation in para- 
graphs as follows: 

(1) WHITMORE KNAGGS, born 1763. 

(2) GEORGE KNAGGS, born about 1765. 

(3) ELIZABETH KNAGGS, born Jan. 11. 
1772. 

(4) ANNE KNAGGS. born Jan. 11, 1777. 

(5) REBECCA KNAGGS. born Feb. 28. 177S 

(6) JAMES KNAGGS, born about 17S0. 

(7) THOMAS KNAGGS. born Nov. 1. 1782. 

(S) WILLIAM KNAGGS. born about 17RI. 

The above dates will no doubt sur- 
prise some of the members of the 
family, who have always believed that 
James Knaggs. the Indian fighter, was 
the youn.gest child, but the records 
show that this belief is unfounded. 

The dates of many of the births, 
deaths and marriages in this series 
of articles have been copied by Rev. 
Christian Denissen of Detroit from the 
catholic church records at Monroe. 
Sandwich and Detroit. Fr. Denissen 
Is a genealogist of skill and resource, 
and has continued the records of Fr. 
Tanguay. the great French genealo- 
gist, down to the present day. The 
Knaggs records, and also other facts 
presented in the series, have also 
been revised by Clarence M. Burton, 
who Is an authority on the history 
of Detroit and the northwest. 

WHITMORE WAS POPULAR. 
In 1S93 the late James W. Knaggs, 
a native of Detroit, and residing there 
in that year, told the writer of this 
article that his father, Whitmore 
Knaggs, was appointed a United 
States Indian agent when he was 18 
vears of age. If this Is correct. Whit- 
more held that position in 1781. Mrs. 
Kev.sor. the w^do^v of George B. 
Knaggs. son of Whitmore Knaggs, 
says that his first a-ppointment was 
made by President Washington. There 
is no doubt that Whitmore, who was 
adopted by the Ottawa Indians as a 
member of their nation, was held in 
hish esteem by the Indians of fhe 
Manmee region, and an official ap- 
pointment of this kin-d would make 
h:m more influential than ever. This 
state of affairs lead to a most Im- 
portant event in the history of the 
Kmggs family. In July. 17S4. the head 
men of the Ottawa nation. In consid- 
erPtion of love and affection, deeded 
him a tract of land on the Maumee. 
on part of which Fort Miami was aft- 
erward built. The tract fronted 40 
arpents on the river by Ifio arpents 
in depth. The description read as fol- 
lows: "Bounded by two trees stand- 
ing on the plains and by another tree 
standing upon the hill." This deed wa» 
lost, but it was renewed by six Ot- 
tawa chiefs. 13 years later, on May 
13. 1797. The description was followed 
in regard to the two trees standing on 
the plain, but it was explained that 
they "have since fallen down, but 
where a bush now remains." In re- 
gard to the "other tree standing on 
the hill" it was stated to be "near 
the spot where the dwelling house of 
said Whitmore Knaggs was built im- 
mediately after we gave him the said 
tract of land, and where his father 
planted an orchard." It was also stat- 



ed that "the house had been pulled 
down under the command of Gen. 
Wayne In 1794." 

The latter deed, thus conflrmlni the 
first, was signed in the presence of 
James May, as one of the judges of 
the court of common pleas. Judge 
May of Detroit was the husband of 
Margaret Labadie, whose sister, 
Josette, married Whitmore Knaggs In 
1797. 

This tract of 4.000 arpents. equivalent 
to 3,684 American acres, was the first 
land acnuired by the Knaggs family, 
and some of the descendants live on 
it today. Progenitor George Knaggs 
Wtis not desirous of owning real prop- 
erty, and no deeds or conveyances 
have been found, except the one In 
1768, above mentioned, that show he ac- 
quired any portion of Mother Earth. 

It Is almost certain that the elder 
Knaggs sympathized with the British, 
rather than the colonists In the strug- 
gle of the latter for Independence, but 
the feeling was not shared In by 
Whitmore. his eldest son. It is prob- 
able that his Influence kept Whitmore 
from joining the colonial forces, but 
as time went on he was unable to 
control him. During the Indian wars 
which succeeded the revolution Whit- 
more was an avowed friend of the 
struggling Americans on the Ijorder, 
and finally became attached to Mad 
Anthony Wayne's army as a scout, 
spy and official interpreter of the In- 
dian tongues. 

FAMOUS IN TWO WARS. 

The Maumee valley. Just above To- 
ledo, is famous as the theater of armed 
strife in the Indian wars alluded to. 
and also In the war of 1812-1.';. After 
the treaty of peace between Great 
Britain and the TTnlted States In 1783. 
the former country Incited mainly by 
the wealthy fur trading companies, 
disreenrded the terms of the treaty 
surrendering the northwest territory, 
of which Detroit and the Maumee val- 
ley were parts, and secretly encour- 
aeed the Indians to attack the white 
settlers on the border. President 
¥'ashIngton sent several forces to sub- 
due these Indians, hut they were all 
unsuccessful Gen Arthur St. rUalr's 
reverse in 1791 was most humiliating. 
He met a strong Indian force near 
the head waters of the Wabash, near 
Fort Wayne. Ind.. on Nov 4 of that 
year, and his entire force of 1.400 
troopo was ignominiously defeated by 
Little Turtle's warriors. Several at- 
tempts were afterward made to patch 
up a peace, the last one In 1793. but. 
the India rs. secretly encouraged by llic 
British, refused to agree to any other 
boundary than the Ohio Finally Pres- 
ident Washington placed Maj.-Gen. 
.^ntbonv "Wayne in command In 1792. 
and the latter at once commenced a 
series of operations, which resulted 
in an honorable peace. 

After Wayne's army was organ- 
ized Gen. Simcoe of Canada select- 
ed the site of a fort on the Maumee, 
about eight miles above Toledo, on 
Whitmore Knagg's tract, as a strate- 
gic point to foil Wayne's movements. 
It was built in the spring of 1794. and 
named Fort Miami. This made the 
trading posts In the neighborhood more 
profitable than ever. To this region 



THE KNAGGS PROGENITORS. 



came Alexander McKee, afterward a 
British colonel in the war of 1S12. and 



American troops, as he probably had administered after a certain number 

a large interest in the goods and ot years had elapsed. It is probable 

established a trading post, erected property, but he considered it as the that tne exact truth will never be 

storehouses and dwellings, and did a fortune of war. In all probability his known. 

large business. His descenoants ne ., father was a British sympathizer, and RACHEL KNAGGS A BUSINESS WOMAN 

ly all live in Windsor. Sandwich town the destruction of his property was There is no doubt that Progenitor 

and township, opposite Detroit. Of an act of reprisal which his son could George Knaggs's wife also came to 

' of not resent. It was plain, however, to Detroit before the British evacuation. 



course he was a business rival 



George Knaggs. but there seemed to both father and son. that the Mau- 



in 179 



James W. Knaggs told the 



be plenty of trade for both. Three mee valley wa.? ruined for buislness .^-riter of this article In 1S93 that the 

companies of British soldiers, under purposes for some time. So the elder ^^^^^ g^^, dwelling of his grandpar- 

romn.and of Cii.r Oildwell. were sen. Knaggs removed to Detroit and start- ;^jg ^.^^^ ^.j^hin the stockade ot this 

from Detroit to defend the new fort, ed in business there. He had been ;, g^ ^ jg pertain that thev came 

whi-h with insolent bad faith, was preceded to Ihe same place by his son ^j^,. ^1,^)^ store and buildings "on tho 

built in territory guaranteed by the George, but whether they became part- Maumee were destroyed by Wayne-s 

treaty to be m the United States, The ners in business l.s not known, lieorge troops in 1794 Between that date 

fort was close to the place where had been there for several years, and ^„^ the appointment of John Askir. 

George Knaggs and Rachel Sly trid stood so well with the authorities that ^^ administrator of the estate of 

he had been appointed magistrate, and Qf^grge Knaggs, Sr., in 1797, only three 

had married into an old French fam- g^^^j years had elapsed, and it !=f 

ily In 1795. The elder Knaggs did not gi^nogt certain that their commercial 

Near Fort Miami was fought the P™"' ^^ ^^f <^bange. He bought his gj. ^ Detroit was during that 



settled in 1760, 

THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS 



battle of Fallen Timbers on Aug. 20, 
1794. between Gen. Wayne and a force 
of Canadian militia and Indians under 
Little Turtle. (See map.) Wayne".5 
army Interpreter was Whitmore 
Knaggs. who also acted as scout and 
spy during this campaign, and his 



goods from long established firms, but time. The American State Papers 



did not succeed in .getting trade 



show that Rachel Knaggs. in 



pre- 



was over 60. and had not the vigor furred her claim before the United 
to win success in a new fleld, and he ptates land board, as owner ot iT-i 
finally lost health, and died, perhaps. aj.pents being 2?4xl00 arpents front 
in 1797, one year after the American i on the Raisin, In rear by uiilo 

-.,. „ ....„ _... ^.., „..^ ...., o«"patlon. The word "perhaps" is ^^^,^3 j^n^g above by lands of Giles 

younger brother, James Knaggs only "^^'''^ '" sP^^I^'ng "f the time of his Barnes and below by lands of Thomas 
14 years of age, was also a scout, spy ^r'^o.^^r.'^^' ,'^1?' ^.'^'^'^'"^ Knaggs, Knaggs, her son. A reliable witness 
and soldier. Both fought in this en- 
gagement. Col. John Francis Hain- 
tramck, afterward the first United 
States commandant of Detroit in 



of Bay City, states in a paper pub- 
li.shed in the Michigan Historical and 
Pioneer Collection of 1890. that the 
first Knaggs left his family some time 



1796. 



commanded 



wing of ''"'"" '" ■"'■'-■ '^^"' '° ^'^ seaboard and 



swore that, previous to July 1, ^795, 
he saw her in possession of the prem- 
ises, house, store, stables, etc., and 
about 12 arpents cultivated. The 
United States land board thereupon 



AVayne's army, and the plan of shipped on a whaling voyage, from allowed the claim, and issued to her 

certificate 516 on Dec. 16, ISOS. The 
above showed that she had put an 
anchor to windward before her bus 
band went into trade elsewhere, an I 
ever, and states her belief that he proves the statement that she was a 



battle was conceived by Lieut. Will- 
iam Henry Harrison, afterward a mili- 
tary hero in the war of 1S12. and elect- 
ed president of the United States In 
1S40. 

The opposing army was so complete- 
ly routed that the Indians lost heart. 
They took refuge in and around Tort 
Miami, and could not be forced to 
come out in the field again The trad- 
Ins- posts ot George Knaggs and Col. 
McKee were destroyed by Wayne's 
troops, and they also took refuge In 



which he never returned. Mrs. Key- 
sor. of Maumee. O.. who is the wid- 
ow of George B. Knaggs. grandson of 
George Knaggs, 1st, disputes this, how- 



died at the old home of the family on 
the Maumee. 

AN IRISH DIVIDEND. 
As a matter of fact, however, the 
time of his death is attested by 
a document in the Wayne county 
probate court, in which it is 
recorded that John Askln, ad- 



the fort. The Indians were pursued ministrator of the estate of Georgt- 

to within a pistol shot of the fort. Knaggs. Sr , .g.ave a bond of ?r>no 

whereupon Ma.1. Wm. Campbell, who to Probate Judge George McDougall. 

had succeeded Capt. CaMwell as com- on Aug. 23. 1797. Another document 



shows that the "produce" of the es- 
tate, which was returned to the same 
was valued 



prudent, level-headed business wo- 
man. The records also state that 
she was a taxpayer on the Raisin in 
1S02. Events show that her husband 
was not possessed of these desirable 
qualities. Mrs. May Stocking 

Knaggs, of Bay City, whose husband 
is a great-grandson of George Knaggs 
and Rachel Sly, has in her possession 
a parchment bearing the signatures of 
James Madison, president, and 
Jpmes Monroe, secretary of state, 
dated May 30, ISll. granting to Rachel 
Knaggs 259 acres on the n»rth side 
of the Raisin. This is probably a 



mandant. sent a peppery protest to 
Wayne, who retorted in kind. The 

paper warfare is amusing reading at tribunal on Feb. 21. lii>.\. was vaiuea " ,\,_ \.^„ „„ otk 

this day. Wayne had orders at £104 4s 7d. being all personal prop- Patent of the same Pf "f*'^'^ • Jf J"* 

to capture and demolish Fort Miami, erty. The creditors were George Mel- ^rpents are about equal to 259 acres, 

but It was too strong for his force, drum. George Sharp, Meldrum & Park A HARROWING EXPERIENCE, 

and he prudently forebore. The dc- .ind John Askin, all Detroit mn Before she died she went through 

feat, however, had completely demor- chants, and the money owing to them a harrowing experience at French- 

alized the Indians, and the surrender aggregated £1.644 19s Sd. leaving a net town, now Monroe, After the bat- 

of Detroit was practically Insured, loss of £1.540 15s Id. of which John tie of the Raisin, on Jan. ffi 

Askin's individual loss was over £1.200 



Gov. Simcoe, hoping against hope, had 



which 



a fleet of gunboats built at Chatham. The £104 and small change was of American 



and strengthened the fort at Detroit, 
but it was labor lost. Finally Fort 
Miami, on the Maumee. and Fort 
Lernoult. at Detroit, were evacuated 
by the British, and were occupied by 
American troops under the command 



1S13. 

Proctor defeated the 

force under General 

Winchester, and permitted the Indians 

to massacre the Kentucky and other 



of Col. John Francis Hamtramck, on what is now the state of Michigan, 



course divided among the creditors, 
who thus secured an Irish dividend. 

But the above documents do not con- troops who had been taken prison- 

clusively prove that the progenitor of ers, she showed her humanity by hid- 

the family died In Detroit. At that ing a citizen under a hogshead from 

time Wayne county included all ot the Indians who were seeking to kill 



the same day. July 11, 1796. 



Col. and also parts of Ohio. Indiana. Illi- 



Hamtramck left Maumee and arrived no's. Wisconsin and Iowa. The Mau- 



in Detroit on the 13th. 



GEORGE KNAGGS. SR., 
TROIT 



mee valley was then In Wayne coun- 



him. Gen. Proctor heard of her and 
ordered her to leave town. It was a 
bitter cold day and she was SO years 
of age. The British general knew 



GOES TO DE- 



ty. The probate court records do that she was the mother of several 

sons who were enemies of Great Brit- 
ain, and with unmanly spite he com- 



Whltmore Knaggs's feelings 
most likely somewhat hurt when his 



not state that he died at Detroit. 
So that he may have died at 
his old home, or in what is now Tlon- manded her to go to Detroit. Los- 
were roe county, or he might have gone on sing, the historian, tells of her jour- 
the whaling voyage and never re- 



ney as follows: "Thinly clad, hav- 



father's store was destroyed by the turned, and his estate could have been ing been robbed by the Indians, bhe 



THE KNAGGS PROGENITORS. 



proceeded to Detroit in £tn open tnaln- 
eau. where she found several 
friends and relatives. Her daughter 
Elizabeth, wife of John Anderson, of 
Monroe, also went to Detroit with her 
three children, believing it was safer 
there than at Monroe. When Mrs. 
Rachel Knaggs was asked how it hap- 
pened that she did not freeze, she re- 
plied, "My spunk kept me warm." 

She subsequently returned to ner 
home in Frenchtown, but afterward 
removed to her farm on the Raisin, 
some seven miles above Monroe. For 
several years she had a store at Green 



Bay, Wis., to which place she paid 
periodical visits. She dealt in furs 
principally, and was also a large 
dealer in bears' oil, which was much 
in demand in those days for dressing 
the hair. By her will, written In 
French, and dated Dec. 4. 1S13. she gave 
adjoining farms, each fronting three 
arpents on the River Raisin, to her 
sons, Thomas and William Knaggs, 
with a condition that they pay Ave dol- 
lars each to her daughters, Elizabeth 
Knaggs Anderson and Rebecca 
Knaggs, her son, Whitmore Knaggs, 
and the children of her de- 



^.-eased son, George Knaggs, who 
died in Detroit in 1809. The balajice of 
her estate she willed to be divided be- 
tween her sons. Wli'liam and James. 
She appointed Gilbert Lacroix as ex- 
ecutor. It is certain that she died in 
1.S15, as the will was admitted, and let- 
ters of administration issued on July 
1 of that year by George McDougall, 
of Detroit, register. The records do 
not show where she died, but Mrs. 
Keysor, widow of George Knaggs, of 
Maumee, says that she died at Green 
Bay, then in the territory of Michigan, 
but now in WlsoonsLn. 




WHITMORE KNAQQS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Whitmore Knaggs, the most promi- 
nent member of the Knaggs family, 
was a striking and picturesque figure 
in Detroit at the beginning of the last 
century. He was a man of magnifi- 
cent physique, six feet in hlght. and 
weighed about ISO pounds, well pro- 
portioned, with dark hazel eyes, sandy 
complexion and a handsome face, ex- 
pressive of courage, intellect and au- 
dacity. He was always well dressed 
in civil life, being generally arrayed 
in a blue coat with brass buttons, a 
buff-colored vest, a high beaver hat, 
ruffled shirt, and a black silk hand- 
kerchief, a yard square folded and 
tied around his neck. 

M.-\r.KIED IN DETROIT. 

As already stated, he was the Widest 
child of George Knaggs and Rachel 
Sly, and was born at Maumee in 1763 
Much of his early history has been re- 
lated in the general history of the 
family, including the fact that he re- 
ceived in 17S4 an Indian grant of 4,000 
arpents of land on the Maumee, and 
that he was official interpreter for the 
United States army, under "Mad" An- 
thony Wayne, and was present at the 
battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. He 
came to Detroit just after it was evac- 
uated by the British in 1796. and was 
probably holding the same position of 
official United States interpreter which 
he had held for some 15 years, and also 
Indian agent. At that time he was 33 
years of age and unmarried. He evi- 
dently felt at that time that it was 
not good for man to be alone, and be- 
coming acquainted with the family of 
Pierre Descomptes Labadie at their 
home, which is still standing at the 
foot of Twenty-fourth street, in De- 
troit, he fell in love with Josette. one 
of the comely daughters. They were 
married at the home of the bride in 
1797. The first of the Labadie family. 
Francois Labadie, came from France 
to Canada, and married Jeanne Hebert 
in 1671. Mrs. Hamlin, the author of 
"Legends of Le Detroit," says "there 
was a title of LeCompte in the He- 
bert branch of the family, from which, 
perhaps, comes the Des Comptes in the 
Labadles." 

BUYS A HOME. 

In 1S03 he purchased the homestead 
and farm of Joseph Gaubeille, front- 
ing on the Detroit river, at the moutli 
of Knaggs creek, for £560 13s 4d, or 
about $2,S00. The house was probably 
built by the first proprietor of the 
farm, Pierre Drouiliard. who purchas- 
ed the land for £400 in 17S3. Drouil- 
iard sold it to Joseph Gaubeille in 1S03, 
who sold it to Whitmore Knaggs later 
in the same year. It fronted 3% acres 
on the river, with a depth of 60 acres, 
and contained 1S0.59 acres. It was 
bounded on the east by the farm of 
Alexis Campau, and on the west, or 
lower side, by the farm of Parrish 
Campau. The title of the land was 



confirmed by the United States land 
board in 1807, and is numbered nrivate 
claim 77. In 1S17 he entered the tract 
in rear of his farm containing 70.30 
acres and it was also patented to him 
and his holding then contained 250.95 
acres. In the house on the farm his 
youngest son. James W. Knaggs. was 
!).jrn in 1S04, and also his child. Eliza- 
beth, who was born eight years later, 
in 1S12. The elder children were Peter 
Whitmore Knaggs, George B. Knaggs 
and John Knaggs— nve In all. His 
house was about a quarter of a mile 
below the Labadie homestead, which is 
one of the historical houses of Detroit. 
The farm and hom.estead was subse- 




WHITMORB KNAGGS. 

Silhouette In possession of Miss Antoinette 
Knaggs, the only likeness in existence. 

quently owned by the late Bela Hub- 
bard, and Is now a part of his estate, 
except those portions which have been 
sold. 

KNAGGS CREEK. 

The mouth of Knaggs creek, which 
at that time was about 300 feet wide, 
came up within a few yards of the 
house. At the mouth there was about 
three acres of wild oats growing in the 
water, which attracted multitudes of 
wild ducks and millions of blackbirds. 
James W. Knaggs once said that he 
shot hundreds of these blackbirds in 
one day when he was a little boy. Every 
year, according to his account, col 
onies of muskrats would establish 
their habitations in the same place, so 
that there was abundance of sport for 
the family at their own door. 

Knaggs creek, like the Savoyard and 
May's creek, does not exist any more. 
It rose a little north of what is now 
W^est Fort street, west of MoKinstry 
avenue, and ran in a southeasterly di- 
rection, across Fort street and Clark 
avenue, crossing the Wabash railroad 
tracks at Swain avenue, and empty- 
ing into the Detroit river about 150 
feet east of the foot of Swain avenue. 



The mouth of the creek was still there 
in 1.S97. and It was spanned by a bridge 
The Swain avenue sewer was con- 
structed in that year and was built 
on a pile foundation under the Wa- 
bash tracks, and ran down Swain ave- 
nue to the river. The bed and mouth 
of the river were then filled in. and the 
bridge removed, and Knaggs creek be- 
came one of the lost waters of De- 
troit. The Knaggs homestead was on 
what is now the northwest corner of 
Swain avenue and River street. The 
cellar of the house was filled in with 
lime and building refuse, which did 
not encourage the growth of vegeta- 
tion, and the ground plan of the his- 
toric habitation is still (1901) plainly 
to be seen. 

A sketch of the Knaggs house ap- 
pearson page S. A description of it was 
read before the Michigan Historical 
and Pioneer society by Bela Hubbard 
in 1S72, as follows: "The Knaggs house 
was for several years my own resi- 
dence. It consisted of two parts — one 
a low structure of a single story, with 
an attic, and containing two rooms 
and a pantry. It is of unknown age, 
and like the Oass house, bears marks 
of Indian outrages. The other portion 
is of comparatively modern date, and 
corsists of three considerable rooms, 
separated by a central hall. It has a 
second half story, with dormer win- 
dows, and also windows in the gable, 
and is throughout well finished. The 
front door is umbraged by a square 
portico, which had seats and com- 
manded a delightful lookout upon the 
river on its immediate front. Both 
parts of the mansion are built of 
squared pine timber, clapboarded. The 
newer portion had, when I took pos- 
session, a coat of paint, white in front, 
red in rear. If there had ever been 
paint on the older portion it had long 
disappeared. The panes of glass 
throughout all the windows were a 
curiosity, being of a size entirely dis- 
used, and no longer sold by deajlers— 
six and a half by seven and a half 
inches." 

About 1S15. just after the close of the 
war, Whitmore Knaggs built a wind- 
mill in front of his farm, on a point 
or small cape that projected a short 
distance into the Detroit river. The 
miller was a Frenchman named Soica 
who was kept pretty busy grinding the 
corn, wheat, buckwheat and other 
grain of the neighboring farmers. The 
mill was torn down in ISoS. There were 
about a dozen other windmills on both 
sides of the river, forming picturesque 
features in the landscape, but the 
gradual introduction of steam drove 
them all out of existence before the 
war of the rebellion. 

AN INDIAN STOPPING PLACE. 

Between 1S03 and 1S12, In summer 
time, dozens of elm bark Indian oa- 
noes could be seen lying on the beach 



8 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



In front of the house, while their own- 
ers would be talking with Whitmore 
Knaggs. Although the revolutionary 
war resulted In placing the Indians 
urider two flags, a large majority of 
them clung to the British government. 
The general reason for this state of 
affairs was twofold. One was that the 
British did not disturb the Indians In 
their lands, but left them alone to 
catch fur animals, which were pur- 
chased from them and sold at big 
profits, and the other was that the 
British were quite liberal In giving 
them presents. The Americans with 
whom they mostly were in contact 
v/ere cultivators of land, and their in- 
creasing number circumscribed the ex- 
tent of the Indian hunting grounds, 
while neither the new government nor 
Its citizens could afford to give the 



traverse Michigan, would abandon 
their canoes when they left for home, 
so that anybody on the river could get 
a canoe for nothing. After getting 
their presents at Amherstburg the In- 
dians would call into Whitmore's 
house again to make their further 
wants known. He would be in at- 
tendance at the government store In 
Detroit nearly every day, and would 
deal out presents, which, however, 
were not so numerous or valuable as 
those given by the British. 

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS, 

Gov. William Hull, who lived In De- 
troit from 1S05 until he surrendered it 
to the British in IS13, was a frequent 
vi.sitor at the Knaggs hou.se. At one 
visit he caime with Mrs. Hull and 
stayed for three days. The rooms for 



savage, lay his hand on the horse and 
say; "De bend on." ("That Is mine.") 
He would then put the horse In hlB 
stable or In safe keeping until he 
found the owner. A repetition of the 
incident earned him this Indian nick- 
name. Like all strong men he had 
many bitter enemies as well as warm 
friends, among both the white and red 
men. 

A MILITIA OFFICER. 
When Michigan was organized into a 
separate territory In 1S05, congress pro. 
vided that the rulers should consist of 
a governor and three judges. The bjv- 
ernor appointed was William Hull, and 
the Judges were Augustus B, Wool- 
ward, John Griffin and Fred. Bates. 
Bates was succeded by several person.-!, 
but Woodward, as chief Justice, and 




WHITMORE KNAGGS'S HOUSE AND WINDMILL. 



Indians expensive presents. The Ot- 
t.Twas and Chippewas, who resided in 
Michigan, and the Pottawatomies and 
Wabash Indians, who lived beyond the 
Mississippi, came twice a year to Port 
Maiden, at Amherstburg, 17 miles be- 
low, on the opposite side of the Detroit 
river, to receive blankets, brass ket- 
tles, rifles, tomahawks, beads, powder, 
shot, calicoes, and other presents from 
Col. Matthew Elliott, the British In- 
dian agent. Nearfly every canoe load 
of Indians going down the river to 
Amherstburg on these occasions would 
call on Whitmore Knaggs and shake 
his hand. His Indian name was De- 
bendon, of which the meaning will be 
described further on. Knaggs could 
converse with everybody he met. If 
a priest or learned man called, he 
cculd speak in Latin. He also spoke 
English, French and Dutch, and could 
talk the Indian dialects of the Shaw- 
nees, Wyandottes, Delawarcs, Otta- 
was, Chippewas and Pottawatomies. 
His duties besides interpreter included 
the supervision of supplies, rations 
and arms for the Indians from the 
government store. This position he 
held up to the war of 1S12. 

The western Indians who came by 
canoe and portage on the streams that 



guests, which Hull and his wife occu- 
pied, were on the left of the door, 
which can be seen in the picture of 
the house. He was subject to sick 
headache and weak eyes, for which his 
physicians had prescribed bleeding. 
Hearing that there were plenty of 
leeches In the shallow gulleys in the 
upper part of Knaggs' creek, he re- 
quested the boys to get him some. 
James W. said that he and his broth- 
ers got him about a dozen in a tin 
kettle, and Hull applied them to his 
head with his own hands. Gov. Lewis 
Cass and William Woodbrldge, his 
secretary, afterward governor and 
United States senator, would also fre- 
quently call at the house. Tecumseh 
and his brother, the Prophet, also 
called several times, and Whitmore 
Knaggs was well acquainted with 
them both, as well as other distin- 
guished Indians. 

Knaggs's Indian name, Debendon, 
was bestowed on account of an inci- 
dent. The Indians were not very scru- 
pulous about appropriating things 
within their reach, and had a decided 
penchant for horseflesh. When Knaggs 
would see an Indian mounted on a 
horse that was not an Indian pony. It 
was prima facie evidence that it had 
been stolen. He would go up to the 



Griffln, as associate Judge, held thi>lr 
positions until 1S23. Hull had been an 
officer in the war of the revolution, 
and was generally considered as a 
brave soldier, but had never held a 
separate command. The Judges were 
three needy lawyers who were ap- 
pointed by President Jefferson. Th" 
four comprised the executive, legisla- 
tive and Judicial government of ''1 e 
territory, and the legislature was al- 
lowed to adopt any law in force in any 
of the states of the Union. The judges, 
sitting as a court, would sometimes 
discover that no law had been passed 
which would be applicable to the case 
in hand. They would then adjourn as 
a court, convene as a legislature, pass 
a law to suit the emergency, and ad- 
journ; reassemble as a court and ren- 
der verdicts accordingly. They were 
always quarreling among themselves, 
and their decisions and action as a 
court, legislature and land board wer! 
frequently outrageous travesties on 
justice. The virtual ruler of the ter- 
ritory was Wood%vard, who was aii 
able lawyer, but eccentric and placidly 
arrogant to an Incredible degree. 

One of the flrst actions of Gov. Hull 
was to organize the militia of the ter 
ritory into two regiments and a lefiion- 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



9 



ary corps. Judge Woodward, although 
he had no military training, was ap- 
pointed colonel of the First regimcnc, 
and one of the captains was Whitmore 
Knaggs. Tile second regiment was 
commanded by Col. John Anderson of 
Frenchtown (Monroe), who was the 
husband of Whitmore's sister Eliza- 
beth; one of the lieutenants was Thos. 
Knaggs. and one of the ensigns 
James Knaggs. both brothers of Whit- 
more. Hull was a thrifty individual 
who would be called a boodler at the 
present day. He issued orders ure- 
scriblng expensive uniforms, and 
bought the cloth, trimmings, etc., to 
sell to the otllcers and men at a profit 
to himself. Some of the oflScers bought 
the uniforms at Hull's figures, but 
the privates were too poor, and they 
would not. But Hull persisted and 
threatened punishments to everybody 
who would not get the uniform, and 
In 1S06. the grand Jury protested 



outrageous or tyrannical decision of 
the latter, and he proceeded to pum- 
mel the judge in the public streets, thus 
going one better than Abraham Lin- 
coln in attacking the judiciary. The 
records show that Augustus B. Wood- 
ward made formal complaint to him- 
self "that Whittemore Knaggs, one of 
the interpreters tor the United States 
for one of the tribes of savages com- 
monly called Cheboys or Chippeways, 
in custody of a plea for trespass, for 
that the said defendant, on the 10th 
day of June, 1811, at Detroit, with force 
and arms, to wit: with clubs, etc., 
nssaulted said plaintiff and did then 
and there strike and wound and other 
enormities commit against the peace 
and dignity of the United States of 
America, and to the damage of said 
plaintiff twenty thousand dollars, 
whereof he brings suit." Following 
this came a formal order for the ar- 
rest of Whitmore, Issued by Judge 



precedented, unwarrantable, arbitrary 
and tyrannical, and tending to pros- 
trate the sacred barriers which the 
wisdom of our laws have erected 
against encroachments on the liber- 
ties of the cltizep " 

WOODWARD'S DEFENSE. 

Against this fulmination Judge 
Woodward interposed an ingenious 
plea, in which he admitted the facts 
of his action, and then proceeded to 
argue that "a judge was a conserva- 
tor of the public peace, and always In 
the execution of his office, and the law 
arms him with power for the protec- 
tion of others and also himself. Even 
words of threatening and abuse to- 
ward him in relation to his nubile 
duties are regarded in the same light 
as an assault." He contended that 
the proceedings were public, but that 
the parties did not wish to be present. 



MAP SHOWING DETROIT RIVER COAST BETWEEN WOODWARD AVENUE AND THE KNAGGS HOME. 




HOUSE. HOUSE. 



AND 
STOCKADE. 



against his conduct in this particu- 
lar. The militia could not buy the 
prescribed uniforms, and their Satur- 
day drills were a ludicrous farce. 

Whitmore Knaggs had seen too 
much actual warfare to care about 
playing soldier in such puerile Myle, 
and he only obeyed orders in a per- 
functory manner. He had good busi- 
ness sagacity, and when It had became 
apparent that Great Britain would be 
dispossessed of her -sYestern territory, 
had been for years acquiring land for 
himself and his brothers and sisters, 
as well as his Immediate family. 
THE KNAGGS AS LANDOWNERS. 

The records show that in 1808 he se- 
cured for his younger brother Will- 
iam three pieces of land, 320, 600 and 
360 arpents respectively, on the River 
Raisin, the titles of which were con- 
firmed by the United States land court 
in that year. Also 360 arpents on the 
Raisin tor his brother Thomas; 100 
arpents on the Raisin for his broth- 
er James, and several tracts for him- 
self, one of which was 600 acres, on 
the same stream. Some of the above 
tracts were grants from the Indians. 
In the same year he sold 600 arpents 
of his 4,000 arpents on the Maumee for 
$1,000. He also sold an extensive tract 
of land near what is now Fort Wayne, 
Ind., to Robert M. Eberts, of Detroit, 
father of the Eberts brothers, and 
also managed several other deals for 
himself and his Immediate family, 
which will hereafter be related. 

HE ASSAULTED WOODWARD. 
In ISll he had a difficulty with Judge 
Woodward, the chief justice, which 
was probably caused by some absurd. 



Griflin, who was Woodward's hench- 
man and tool, and directed to the 
United States marshal of the terri- 
tory, John Anderson. Whitmore was 
accordingly arrested, and Woodward 
actually tried him himself and made 
him give bonds to keep the peace. 

WOODWARD SCORED. 
This decision excited universal In- 
dignation in the little town, and was 
made a part of the charge of the 
grand jury of the territory in the 
following September. The foreman 
of the jury was Dr. Stephen 
Henry, a leading physician, and the 
other jurors were George Cotterall, 
James Conner, George McDougall, J. 
Farrell, Jacob Visger, John Ander- 
son, J. B. Beaugrand, David Beard, T. 
Eastman, Henry Berthlet, Chabert 
De Joncaire, John Dodomead, Samuel 
T. Dyson, M. Seinger and Josiali 
Brady. The panel, like many of Us 
predecessors and successors during 
the reign of the governor and judges, 
were no respecters of persons. One 
part of its charge was a virtual indict- 
ment of Judge Woodward himself. It 
alleged that he had Whitmore Knaggs 
arrested and brought before him on a 
charge of assault and battery on him- 
self, when there were two other 
judges of the supreme court who 
might have been called in to try the 
case. Also that he had called up the 
case in court without giving notice to 
Knaggs and adjudged that he should 
give $1,500 bonds to keep the peace. 
This was done without acquainting 
Knaggs or his attorney of the hearing 
of the case. For these and other rea- 
sons the jury conceived that the con- 
duct of Judge Woodward was "un- 



and he did not deem It proper to co- 
erce them. "Therefore an act of 
benevolence Is not to be construed as 
an act of oppression." He also cited 
a similar assault committed upon him 
by Capt. John Whipple, for which the 
latter was fined by the supreme court, 
but did not add that Gov. Hull had 
remitted the fine, probably because 
the jurymen and everybody in town 
knew It. 

From his intimate luiowledge of the 
Indian temper and modes of thought, 
as well as the exasperation caused by 
the British Inslstance of the right to 
search of United States vessels for 
deserters, it is not surprising that 
W'hitmore Knaggs foresaw the war be- 
tween the two countries in 1812-15, and 
that the conflict would extend over 
the region In which he was born and 
reared. He learned enough of Tecum- 
seh's plans and intrigues to know that 
the red men would aid Great Britain 
in the bloody fratricidal strife, and be- 
ing a husband and father, as well as 
a man of property, he foresaw and 
dreaded the horrors that would at- 
tend a warfare In wTiich Indians were 
a part of the British army. He also 
realized the immense influence which 
Tecumseh wielded over his fellow-sav- 
ages In the minds of the red men 
that chieftain was a Moses who would 
yet give them the promised land— the 
hunting grounds of their fathers. To 
the Indians the comet of 1811 which 
traversed the midnight sky, and left 
behind a fiery blood red track, was Te- 
eumseh's right arm. stretched forth 
to protect his race and punish theii 
entmies. The earthquakes of the 
same year In the valleys of the Mis- 
souri and the Mississippi were the 



10 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



tread of the grreat Shawnee's foot on 
his way to the Detroit. 

Whitmore Knaggs knew all these 
things, and he frequently warned Gov. 
Hull and other prominent citizens oit 
what he saw in the future. At one 
time, when Hull was on a visit to his 
home and friends in Massachusetts, 



decided ground. The question is now 
brought to a point. England must do 
us justice or war will follow. Remem- 
ber me with affection to all of my 
friends, and assure them of my con- 
stant solicitude for their safety, and 
fhat I have, and shall continue to do, 
all in my power to promote it. 




•STE. .VNNE'S CHUKCH IN ISl:;. 
Gen. Proctor and Fr. Richard—Indians Make Music on the Organ Pipes. 



Knaggs wrote him a letter, in which 
he expressed these forehodings. Gov. 
Hull's answer was from NeTVton, 
Mass., at which place he died in 1825, 
and was dated Dec. 17, ISll, eight 
months before the surrender of De- 
troit : 

"Dear Sir— It is now a little more 
than one month since we finished our 
long journey and arrived at this, our 
old mansion. Our journey was pleas- 
ant, and we are in good health. I am 
not without concern on account of 
your situation. I regret now, under 
the existing circumstances, that I am 
not with you. If you are to have dif- 
ficulties, I could wish to share them 
with you. I fear two circumstances 
will render the Indians troublesome. 
One is what has taken place on the 
Wabash, with Gov. Harrison, and the 
Prophet; the other is the prospect of 
war with England. I hope, however, 
for the best, and know that the secre- 
tary, with your aid and assistance, 
will do all in his power to preserve 
peace and tranquility. God grant you 
success. What the state ot things will 
be, or how soon or when I shall be 
with you, I know not, at present. My 
heart is certainly with you, and you 
have my best prayers for your safety 
and happiness. 

"Congress has now taken the most 



"I am very sincerely, your friend 
aiij most obedient servant. 

■•^VII^LIAM HUI.L." 

THE SURRENDER OF DETROIT. 

Of the shameful surrender of De- 
troit by Gen. Hull, it is unnecessary 
to speak. Whitmore Knaggs was pres- 
ent at the engagement at Monguagon, 
just below Detroit, before the 
surrender. He was a brave 
man, and like all of the Ameri- 
can offlcers, looked with contempt on 
Hull on the day of surrender. The 
latter, who chewed tobacco, wa.<! rush- 
ing about the fort, with hi.s ruffled 
shirt front and white cravat besmear- 
ed with tobacco spittle in his excite- 
ment and fright. 

The British policy was to deport the 
American citizens and sympathizers, 
and allow the French Inhabitants to 
remain in the city and prosecute their 
business or avocations. Capt. Antolne 
Dequindre, ot Detroit, who led a com- 
pany of the French inihabitants at the 
battle of Monguagon. below Detroit, 
just before the surrender, and helped 
to defeajt a body of British and In- 
dians under Maj. Muir and Tecumseh. 
was even allowed to attend to his 
store on Jefferson avenue, and the 
members of his company were all per- 
.•nitted to return to their homes. Whit- 
more Knaggs. who had married a 



French wife, was included in the same 
category, but was confined for a short 
time, and was then set at liberty. He 
was then allowed by Proctor to leave 
Detroit, on his representation that he 
had official business at Washington, 
where money was due him. He then 
departed, taking with him his eldest 
son, Peter Whitmore Knaggs, 14 
years of age. 

Just before the surrender his wife 
and children -went through exciting 
scenes near their home, down the riv- 
er. Whitmore had removed his sil- 
verware and valuable furniture and ef- 
fects to the home of Reuben Attwater, 
secretary of the territory, in Detroit, 
and Mrs. Knaggs, after securing a 
number of blankets and other articles 
of immediate necessity, removed with 
the younger children to the residence 
of Fr. Gabriel Richard, pastor of Ste. 
Anne's church, which was three-quar- 
ters of a mile up the river, and nearer 
Detroit. As the church had been re- 
moved to a new location, which has 
escaped the notice of the general his- 
torian, it may well be described at this 
point, 

STE. AMNE'S CHURCH IN 1812. 

In 1>>12 ste. Anne's church was lo- 
cated nt-ar the Knaggs farm. The 
chuich and Its pastor had led a mi- 
gratory exislenoe, after the former 
was burned on Jefferson avenue in the 
great fire of 1805. Farmer's History of 
Detroit says (hat after the fire services 
were held for a short time in a tent 
pitched on the commons. Services 
were held for four years afterward in 
the Meldrum warehouse on the dock. 
As early as Jan. 1, 1809, the services 
were held on the Spring Hill farm, 
now known as private claim 30, in 
Springwells township, on the river 
road, about half a mile above the pres- 
ent grounds of Port Wayne. The farm 
had been taken by the government on 
a debt, due from a defaulting official, 
and Fr. Richard paid the rent. He 
was sued for a portion of the rent in 
1811, and petitioned the president to 
remit it, and was successful. A let- 
ter from the comptroller's oIKce in the 
United States treasury department at 
Washington, signed by G. Duvall, 
addressed to Reuben Attwater, col- 
lector of the port ot ' Detroit, and 
dated July 24, 1811, is as follows: 

"Sir— A letter from the Rev. Gabriel 
Richard, to the president of the 
Ignited States, has been submitted to 
this department. You are to credit 
Mr. Richard for improvements and re- 
pairs on the Spring Hill farm, some- 
times called the Ernest Farm, to the 
amount of the rent due from him for 
the occupation of the farm. The 
secretary of the treasury informs me 
that this is consistent with the prom- 
ise made him by the late president 
and secretary of war, and that, in 
fact, it is founded on justice." 

But later in the same year he 
removed his church to a point 
nearer the city. The new location, as 
described by Richard R. Elliott of 
Detroit, was on the front ot the Stan- 
ton farm, on the river road, between 
Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, 
if those thoroughfares were extended 
to the river. It was on or near the site 
of the lower grain elevator of the 
Michigan Central railroad, opposite 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



11 



the foot of Stanton street, and a mile 
anJ three-quarters below the foot of 
Woodward avenue. On the iiroperty 
was a large frame warehouse, proba- 
bly used for storing furs and Indian 
supplies, and also several smaller 
buildings, which Fr. Richard remod- 
eled for church and school uses. The 
warehouse was fitted up as a church, 
and surmounted by a cross. Other 
buildings were the priest's residence; 
an academy for young ladies, which 
was provided with the chemical ap- 
paratus available at that time for 
teaching chemistry; a school for young 
men and one for primary education, 
which were probably under one rooi; 
and a technical school for the educa- 
tion of Indian girls on housework, 
spinning and sewing. In the latter 
were a dozen or more spinning wheels. 
In the church was a good organ, which 
Fr. Richard had imported from France 
a lew months before, together with a 
competent musician, who play-ed at all 
religious certmouies up to tlie time of 
the capture of Detroit. 

It is almost certain that Fr. Rich- 
ard's printing press, the first ever 
brought to Detroit, was also on the 
church premises at this time. It print- 
ed at least one edition of the first 
newspaper in Detroit, the "Michigan 
Essay or Impartial Observer," on Aug. 
SI, l!>o9, and was to be published every 
Thursday. When Detroit was captured 
by the British in 1S12, the articles of 
capitulation were printed on the press. 
There did not seem to be enough type 
of the font used to set up that docu- 
ment and Gen. Brock's name was 
spelled "Broke." 

The organ was afterward repaired and 
used at the new Ste. Anne's church, 
on Larned street, near Bates stride t, 
until 1S34, at which time it was super 
seded by a new one, which was built 
by Schwab of Cincinnati, who was 
brought to Detroit by Bishop Rese 
for that purpose. The old organ was 
presented to Trinity church, then at 
the northwest corner of Bates street 
and Cadillac square, in the sprmg of 
1835, and was used there until that 
church was removed to the corner of 
Porter and Sixth streets in 1849. It 
was then probably presented to some 
rural catholic church. 

THE KN'.\GGS HOUSE SACKED. 
The main body of the British troops 
crossed the river at Springwells, and 
marched up the river on the American 
side on the morning of Aug. 16, 1S12, 
the day of the surrender, wliile an- 
other body lay at what is now Wind- 
sor, on the Canadian side of the De- 
troit river, opposite Detroit. 

Gen. Brock was on the American 
side at the head of his troops. Proctor 
followed with his commands, which in- 
cluded Tecumseh's Indian contingent. 
The latter plundered every farm house 
on the river as they passed. The 
Knaggs house was broken open, the 
windows smashed, the interior of the 
rooms and furniture hacked with 
tomahawks, and the cattle and horses 
driven away. At Ste. Anne's churcU 
they broke into the edifice .and find- 
ing nothing to rob, pulled down the 
wooden pipes out of the organ and 
tooted on them to their heart's con- 
tent. 
Fr. Richard stood in the roadway as 



Gen. Proctor rode up, and the latter 
said to him; 

"Leave your doors and windows 
open. You need not fear; you will not 
be disturbed." 

At this moment Mrs. Knaggs v.'as 
hidden under a bed in the school room, 
which Fr. Richard had fitted up for the 
use of the refugees. Mrs. Knaggs held 
her youngest child, Elizabeth, in her 
arms. Mary, her colored slave, was in 
the room, and so were a good many 
other children, and also the precept- 
ress. Sister Liekette Campau, sister 
of .'Mexis Campau, who owned the 




\\lisg?^i 



GEORGE AND JOHN KNAGGS IN 
GIR-LS' CLOTHES. 



farm adjoining the Knaggs farm on 
the east. The Knaggs children- 
George, aged 12; John, aged 10, and 
James W., aged S— and some other chil- 
dren were upstairs in a room, which 
was locked. Sister Campau, hearing 
some of them crying, went up, knocked 
at the door, and said: "Keep quiet, 
children." Several Indians came up- 
stairs and looked out of the windows 
to see if any American soldiers were 
in sight on the commons. They "were 
assured by the sister that none were 
there, and they went down again. 

Some old French farmers came to the 
church, and one named Roulo was 
very much excited. He said to Fr. 
Richard: "My God, the country is 
sold." The priest raised his hand and 
said, "Shut your mouth, Roulo, or you 
will make trouble." 

A few cannon shots Were flred into 
the town from W'indsor about this 
time, but the siege ended by the broth- 
er of Hull displaying a white flag from 
the ramparts, which was done by or- 
der of Gen. Hull. He had been drink- 
ing and was quite tipsy at the time- 
He asked an American officer to aid 
him in putting up the flag, but the 
latter refused, saying, "I wouldn't 
touch that rag." The British army, 
which was then close to Detroit, went 
inside the palisades without opposi- 
tion and captured the town. 

BOYS IN GIRLS' CLOTHES. 

The tradition of the family is that 
Mrs. Knaggs was annoyed by the In- 
dians afterward and on applying to 



Proctor for protection, was allowed a 
block house for temporary quarters. 
She then removed with her four chil- 
dren to the house of her father, Piei;u 
Descomptes Labadie, where she was 
married 13 years before, and where she 
remained until her husband's return. 
At first, dreading the Indians, who 
often murdered infants and children 
in warfare, she thought to lessen the 
danger by dressing her sons, George 
and John, in girls' clothing. Both 
were deeply incensed at this and 
George said he wouldn't stand it; that 
he would rather die, so Josette took 
oft the petticoats and gave them short 
pantaloons again. 

THE RAISIN MASSACRE. 
According to Whitmore Knaggs's 
written account, he went to W"ash- 
ington to get money due him and set- 
tle his accounts with the government. 
He then returned, and was on his 
way home, when he came up to Gen. 
Winchester's army at Frenchtown, 
now a part of Monroe. Frenchtjwn 
w<;s then a flourishing settlement .if 
about 150 souls. Each house was sur- 
rounded by gardens or orchards, which 
were enclosed by heavy pickets, call- 
ed puncheons, made of saplings, split 
in two. It was occupied by a force 
of 200 Canadian militia and 400 Indians, 
under Col. Matthew Elliott, since Aug. 
IS, 1SI2, two days after the surrender 
of Detroit. The Indians plundered 
and maltreated the inhabitants, and 
they implored Gen. Winchester, then 
at Defiance, O., to aid them. He 
sent Col. Lewis with 700 men, who 
attacked Elliott's command on Jan. 
18, 1813, and drove them away north- 
ward to Brownstown. The American 
loss was 12 killed and 55 wounded; the 
British loss was fully double. 

Gen. Winchester arrived the next 
day and took commana. As Amherst- 
burg was only 18 miles away, on the 
other side of the Detroit river, it be- 
hooved him to be cautious, and he 
consulted a French resident named 
Jacques La Salle. The latter was the 
husband of an Indian woman and had 
Ht least two children. His daughter, 
a beautiful girl, had married an Eng- 
lish officer named Colwell, and his son, 
by the same squaw, was Blue Jacket, a 
Shawnee chief, La Salle, of course was 
devoted to the British cause, and he 
assured Winchester that Proctor wouM 
not dare to attack him. Winchester, 
nevertheless, sent Peter Navarre, one 
of Harrison's scouts, to reconnoiter 
the enemy. Navarre discovered that 
Proctor was preparing to return 
soon, and so informed Wincheste:. 
But La Salle told Winchester that it 
was not so, and then, it is said, dis- 
patched an Indian to Amherstburg 
with a message to Proctor, telling 
him that Winchester could be easily 
defeated. Winchester unfortunately 
believed LaSalle. 

Gen. Winchester was a revolution- 
ary soldier, a Kentuckian, old, fat, 
fussy, aristocratic and opinionated. 
He took no particular pains and did 
not prepare for any attempted sur- 
prise. His soldiers, largely Ken- 
tuckians, and wearing the attractive 
uniform of that state— hunting shirts 
with red belts, blue pantaloons with 
red facings and coonskin caps— were 



12 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



quartered in tents; the ofllcers were 
quartered at the houses of the In- 
habitants, and Gen. Winchester's 
headquarters were at the house ot 
Francis Navarre, an American offlcer. 
Whitmore Knaggs put up at the 
residence of his brother James, whose 
house was on the Raisin, above Mon- 
roe. 

Two days after the British repulse, 
Proctor crossed from AmherstburR on 
the ice. which w.ts four feet thick. 
Joined the troops that were driven out 
of Frenchtown and moved down jn 
the American force with .100 white 
soldiers. 600 Indians under Tecumsoh, 
and four cannon. At 4 o'cloclc on 
the morning of Jan. 22, he bombard- 
ed the American camp, talcing Gen. 
Winchester by surprise. There Is no 
necessity for describing the battle, as 
It belongs to history. The Ameriorin 
force was cut to pieces. It was not 
a battle, but a massacre. Proctor al- 
lowed the Indians to scalp and IciU 
the prisoners, and all the bodies were 
stripped, robbed and mutilated. The 
news created intense excitement all 
through the T'nlon, especially In Ken- 
tucky, nnd the war cry of. the sol- 
diers from that state afterward was 
"Remember the Raisin!" When the 
remaining prisoners reached Amherst- 
burg, the Indians commenced to liill 
them, too, but were stonped Viy 
Tecumseh. They were confined In a 
stockade, and the great Shawnee 
walked 'round the enclosure all night, 
smoking his pipe-tomahawk, and T)r'^- 
vented any more murders. 

Gen. Winchester and Whitmore 
Knaggs escaped, together for a time 
Wliitmore was afoot, but Winches- 
tor insisted that he should get up be- 
hind him on his horse. The two rode 
down the R.aisin on the ice tow.nrd 
the bay at its mouth. While on their 
way a party of seven mounted Indians 
intercepted them. 

"What shall we do?" said Win- 
chester. 

"What can we do but surrender," 
said Knaggs. 

As they approached Knaggs recoc?- 
ni7cd among them Jack Brandy, a 
Wyandotte chief, and George Blu" 
Jacket, a Shawnee chief. The lat- 
ter, as stated before, was a brother- 
in-lav,r of Colwcll, the British ofllcer. 

"My friend Knaggs, you are my 
prisoner." said Brandy, with an oath. 

At the same time Gen. Winchester 
drew his sword and handed It to Blue 
Jacket, sayln.g; "I make you a pres- 
ent of my sword." 

Winchester also handed over to him 
his pair of pistols. Blue Jacket after- 
ward presented them to Capt. Will- 
iam Caldwell, of Amherstburg. Ont.. 
and they are now in the possession of 
his grandson, of the same name, at 
-Amherstburg. They h.ave wooden 
stocks, extending to the muzzle, and 
are of London make. 

S.WBD BY JACK BRANDY. 

They were taken back toward Proc- 
tor's headquarters. Knaggs had be- 
friended Blue Jacket In former years, 
and the latter was much attached .o 
him. On the way they were stop- 
ped by Indians who had a grudge 
against Knaggs, and seemed deter- 



mined to kill him, but Brandy Inter- 
posed and told them to desist. Judge 
B. F. H. Witherell tells the story 
of this incident as follows: "They 
pressed on, however, and, as a last 
resort, the brave fellow seized Knag.^s 
around the waist, kept his own body 
between him and the enemy, and kept 
whirling around, and so prevented the 
oft-repeated blows of the tomahawk 
and war club from taking effect on 
the victim's head, until he succeeded 
in getting him to the midst of a nu.-n- 
her of horses that were harnessed 
together. Here the bloodthirsty sav- 
ages struck at Knaggs's legs; lie, 



Proctor, however, took the precau- 
tion of stationing a squad of soldiers 
at the house. Blue Jacket had h'h 
young son taken to his mother at 
Detroit. 

MAGNANIMOUS WOODWARD. 

Of course. Mrs. Knaggs was speed- 
ily informed by her husband of ills 
situation and she immediately sent a 
letter to Judge Woodward to com3 
and see her that evening, which was 
Jan. 24, 1S13. He came, and notwith- 
st.anding his difficulty with Whitmore 
in June, ISll, he promised to do all he 
could to aid her, and he kept hia 




GEX. WINCHI3STEU AND WHITMORE KNAGGS SURRENDER TO BLUE 

J-ACKET. 



however, avoided the blows until a 
British officer Interposed and savj.1 
him." 

James W. Knaggs, son of Whlt- 
iTiore Knaggs, tells the same story, 
but adds that "Blue Jacket became 
provoked and shot the Indian, who 
fell a corpse on the ice." 

Taken before Gen. Proctor, the lat- 
ter treated him with much discourtesy. 
He knew Knaggs by reputation, and 
he had him handcuffed and taken 
on a tralneau, or little sleigh, to Am- 
herstburg. where he was lodged In 
jail. Francois Baby was at that 
time a man of station and consequenc* 
on the Canada side of the river, and 
was a great friend of Knaggs. When 
Baby heard that he was a prisoner 
he went to Proctor and procured his 
release on parole, and Knaggs stayed 
three days at his house as a guest. 



word. The judge, accompanied by 
Mrs. Knaggs and her children, went 
down to Amherstburg In a sleigh, and 
she saw her husband In Baby's house 
It was an affecting meeting, as there 
was a question whether Whitmorn, 
after he left Detroit, had broken his 
parole not to fight against the Brit- 
ish. If It could be proved that he 
had broken it, he would certainly be 
hanged. When this was learned, Mrs. 
Knaggs and Mrs. Baby and the chll' 
dren all wept in agony and distreis. 

Knap'gs traced the statement that ht 
had broke his parole to Col. Francis 
Navarre, who. It is said. Informed 
Proctor that lie had fought against 
the British at the Raisin. He was 
taken with Winchester and other per- 
sons to Montreal, and finally to Que- 
bec, where he lay In jail for 10 months. 
He wrote a letter from his prison ad- 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



13 



dresse.J to Sir George Prevost, the 
general commanding the British forces, 
under date of May 24. 1813. which com- 
menced: "May it please your excel- 
lency." 

KNAGG-S'S STATEMENT. 

He stated that he was a captain of 
militia under Col. Brush, and also su- 
perintendent of Indian affairs, and 
that when Gen. Hull surrendered De- 
troit, the Indians considerably destroy- 
ed his house and plundered him ot per- 
sonal property to upwards of $12,000. 
"Even then they sought after me and 
my family to put us to death," he 
said. He then got permission from 
Commandant Proctor to leave Detroit, 
and with otliers chartered a vessel and 
sailed to Presque Isle, (near Brie, 
Pa.). That he went from there to 
Washington to receive monies due, 
but was disappointed. Returning home 
with his little son, Peter Whitmore 
Knaggs. then 15 years of age, he 
reached his birthplace and former 
home, below the Maumee rapids, and 
found that settlement all destroyed 
and no friends nearer than the Raisin 
(Frenchtown), where his mother and 
sister lived. While passing there he 
fell in with Gen. Winchester and his 
army, not knowing It was there, on its 
way to Frenchtown. He then proceed- 
ed to the home of his brother (James), 
who lived a mile higher up the river 
from where the ad^'ance of the army 
then lay. Being on his way to his 
home, wife and children, he never 
thought of joining the army, but next 
morning early Winchester's troops 
were attacked and beaten by Gen. 
Proctor. After the defeat he was tak- 
en prisoner, "although I had no con- 
cern whatever with the army, nor in 
any way connected or employed by It." 
Since that time, he said he had been 
kept a close prisoner, and removed 
from Montreal to the Quebec prison, 
where he was accused of having brok- 
en his parole. This accusation he 
strenuously denied, and asked that 
Gen. Winchester and some of his offi- 
cers, then also prisoners, should be al- 
lowed to prove "his innocence. He 
also asked that he "be set free from 
his pninful disgrace and confinement, 
and that he be permitted to return 
home to his afflicted wife and unfortu- 
nate children." 

Gen. Sir George Prevost allowed Gen. 
Winchester to testify in Knaggs'3 be- 
half, and two days aifterward he re- 
ceived n certificate from Winchester 
to the efroct that "Whitmore Knaggs, 
cantiired at the River Raisin on the 
22d day of Jpnuari'. 1S13. did not be- 
long to the United States array, and 
was not under my command or con- 
trol." 

REI^ENTT.KPS PROCTOR, 

But Winchester's certificate did not 
nrncnre the release of Whitmore 
Knag.gs. Proctor, who had been pro- 
moted to brigndier-general. sent a let- 
ter, dated at Sandwich. July 13. 1S13, 
to Col. Brenton. for the information 
of Sir George Prevost. in which he 
stated that Knaggs left Detroit as a 
prisoner under parole fas those taken 
under the command of Gen. HuU had 
done), and "notwithstanding the cer- 



tificate of Brig.-Gen. Winchester, he 
camo in arms with the American 
forces to Frenchtown. and w'as taken 
prisoner near the scene ot action, 
from whic'h he had run off on the de- 
fea.t of his people in January last. • ♦ • 
"The effrontery of these people equal 
their want of principle. We have Just 
discovered a deep and well-laid scheme 
ty effect the defection of the Indians. 
Thf* prisoner, Knaggs. is a violent, 
dangerous man. He twice attempted 
assassination. I propose sending the 
particulars for the consideration of his 
excellency, ot the before-mentioned 
trcacliery." 

WOODWARD SAVED HIS LIFE. 

Judge Woodward also made a strong 
and successful effort to save WTiltmore 
Kraggs's life. C. M. Burton, In a pa- 
per on Woodward, published In the 
vo'.ume of the Michigan Pioneer and 
Historical Collection for 1901, says: 
"Several defenses were set up by the 
judge: that Knaggs was ignorant ot 
the meaning of his parole; that if he 
joined Winchester's army he was in- 
duced to violate his parole by those 
generals: and, finally, that Knaggs 
was not in arms at the tijne of his 
sfcond capture, but a visitor among 
friends at the River Raisin (Frcnch- 
tcwn). He pleaded long and earnestly 
for the life of a man who, he said, was 
an ignorant and turbulent man. 
brought up among savages, among 
whom he was made a prisoner In earl.v 
life. Judge Woodward had not for- 
gotten that Knaggs had assau'ted him 
two years before, and that ho was 
tried and fined by the court for the 
assault, and he related those facts to 
Proctor In petitioning for his release." 

There Is no record ot any letter sent 
by Proctor in which he revealed the 
"particulars" mentioned, and it Is pos- 
sible that he never did. But Wood- 
ward's plea, and perhaps some other 
considerations, saved Whitmore's lite. 
Neither Is there any record of his 
having "twice attempted assassina- 
tion," or that he was made a prisoner 
bv the savages in early life. In re- 
gard to Woodward's plea it Is certain 
that he knew that Knaggs was very 
far from being an ignorant and tur- 
bulent man. or that he was Ignorant 
of the meaning of his parole. He sim- 
ply used a lawj-er's privilege of mak- 
ing the strongest defense he could, 
without being troubled about his facts, 
and he was perfectly successful. Al- 
though Whitmore's life was saved, he 
was kept in the Quebec jail until a 
gtneral exchange of prisoners of war, 
late in 1814, and he then returned 
home. 

When Whitmore Knaggs was taken 
aw.iy in 1813 from Amherstburg, with 
other prisoners, his faithful wife ac- 
companied him. The party proceeded 
to Fort George, which was built by 
the British in 1779, and repaired by 
them In the war of 1812. This fort 
was situated on Penobscot bay. In 
Maine, on the Atlantic coast. Here 
the prisoners remained for a time, 
and were then shipped by water to 
Quebec, and was afterward taken to 
Halifax. 

Mrs. Knaggs was allowed the favor 
of accompanying her husband to Fort 



(Jeorge. but not beyond, and she then 
returned to Detroit. Whether she 
taok her infant child Elizabeth with 
her on this journey is not known. 

The period of 13% months that De- 
troit was under British rule, in 1812-13, 
was a perfect reign of terror. Every 
prominent man known to be a sym- 
pathizer with the Americans was cojn- 
pelled to leave town, with the excep- 
tion of the municipal and legal offi- 
cials, who were continued in office 
by order of Gen. Brock, and the 
French residents. One of these was 
Judge Woodward, who deserved praise 
for opposing Proctor In some of his il- 
legal and Inconsistent actions. One 
of Woodward's objections was that the 
British commandant violated the 
treaty of capitulation, by deporting 
citizens. Proctor's cruel and brutal na- 
ture would have led him to deport 
many more than he did were It not 
for Woodward's opposition. Proctor, 
however, winked at the depredations 
and outrages constantly committed by 
the Indians in and around Detroit, and 
these offenses ranged from petty thefts 
to murder. During Whitmore Knaggs's 
absence, very many persons, soldiers 
and citizens, women and children, were 
brought In by the Indians from the 
frontiers of Ohio. "Poor creatures 
were they," says Judge WitheroU. 
"some wounded, many sickly, and all 
ntarly naked, bareheaded and bare- 
footed, having been robbed by the In- 
dians. They were the personification 
of misery and want, compelled to fol- 
low their savage captors around the 
streets In the hope of ransojn. and 
sleeping on the bare ground, in smoky 
or filthy tents, or under the open sky. 
The compassion of our citizens was 
deeply excited, and every effort was 
made in the power of the plundered 
and impoverished people to ransom the 
suffering captives. Mrs. Knaggs, 
among others, parted ■with blankets 
and nearly everything that had been 
saved from the village of her home, 
to buy the freedom of the prisoners." 

UNFORTUNATE MAUMEE. 

Whitmore Knaggs was right in say- 
ing that his old home on the Maumee 
had been desolated by the ravages of 
war, but the settlement was destined 
to endure other and bitterer experi- 
ences that year. Flushed with the 
capture of Detroit and his barbarous 
victory at the Raisin, Proctor now un- 
dertook the capture of the Maumee 
valley. Meanwhile Gov. Meigs, of 
Ohio, had built a fortified camp on the 
river about two miles above the site 
of the old British Fort Miami, and 
on the opposite bank of the river. It 
was afterward considerably strength- 
ened and named Fort Meigs, and Gen. 
Harrison was placed in cornanand. 
Procter landed at the site of Fort 
Miami on April 28, 1813, with a force 
of about 2,000 Canadian militia and 
Irdians. under Tecumseh. Gen. Clay. 
of Kentucky, was approaching Fort 
Meigs with reinforcements, and Capt. 
Leslie Coombs came down the river 
with a party in a canoe to warn Gen. 
Harrison. At the point marked on 
the map. they saw the stars and 
stripes waving over the fort, but at 
the same moment a body of Indians 
fired at them, and they sought safety 



14 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



In flight. Two of Coombs's party were 
wounded, one mortally, and he re- 
turned to Defiance, up the river. 

Meanwhile Proctor had commenced 
to bombard Fort Meigs from the op- 
po.site side of the river. The British 
artillery was very effective, but Har- 
rison neutralized it by erecting large 
earthworks. Then Proctor got a bat- 
tery and supporting force acros.s the 
river, and attacked Fort Meigs on the 
side and rear. "I will soon simoke the 
Yankees out ot there." he boasted. 

DUDLEY'S DEFEAT. 
Harrison learned that Gen. Clay and 
Gen. Dudley were coming down the 



SOO men in Dudley's command only 170 
escaped across the river to Fort Meigs. 

Harrison was indignant at Dudley 
for having disobeyed his orders, but 
how could he censure a dead man? 
His; force in the tort charged the In- 
dians, in the rear, and dispersed them, 
but Harrison soon saw that their re- 
treat was one ot Tecumseh's snares, 
and he recalled his troops. He then 
made another sortie with 350 men from 
Fort Meigs on the enemy's batteries 
on the .same side of the river, drove 
them away, although S50 strong, spiked 
their guns, and returned with 43 pris- 
oners. 

Proctor was dismayed by these fierce 




THE LABADIE HOUSE IN 1813. 
(Still standing.) 



river to his relief, and he ordered them 
to divide their forces about half a 
mile above Fort Meigs. One detach- 
ment was to cross the river there, 
and, moving down the bank, attack 
and capture the British batteries, op- 
posite Fort Meigs, spike the cannon 
and retreat to the tort. The other was 
to land on the Port Meigs side of the 
river, and fight their way to the fort 
through the Indians, and capture the 
cannon. While these attacks were in 
progress Harrison intended a sally of 
his own, to disperse or capture the 
British force on the other side of the 
river. Clay executed his orders on the 
early morning of May 4, fighting his 
way to the fort. Dudley also moved 
down on the other side of the river, 
where Maumee City is noiw situated, 
and spiked 11 guns without losing a 
man. Harrison signaled to him from 
Fort Meigs to coime across the river, 
but Dudley was flushed with his suc- 
cess, and pressed on. As he neared 
Fort Miami the wily Tecumseh saw 
hi.s opportunity. He sent a body of 
Indians around in the rear of Dudley's 
forces, and the successful attack was 
converted into a terrible defeat. Dud- 
ley was killed, Capt. Coombs and his 
scouts were made prisoners, and of the 



onslaughts, although against one of 
them he was victorious, and when he 
learned that Fort George, on the Niag- 
ara river, had been captured by the 
Americans, on May 5, he virtually 
abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs. 
After the surrender ot Dudley's com- 
mand, the prisoners were marched 
dO'Wn to Fort Miami, and he allowed 
his officers and the Indians to murder 
n'.ore than 20 of them. Tecumseh, 
however, stopped the maissacre. 

Proctor then retreated to Amherst- 
burg, disbanded the Canadian militia, 
and ordered the Indians to encamp on 
Caldwell's farm, below the town. He 
then sent out emissaries, including 
Simon Girty. to enlist the Indians of 
the northwest. He was determined 
he would make no failure the next 
time he moved on the Maumee val- 
ley. 

TECUMSEH' S PLAN. 

While waiting for the savages to as- 
semble, Tecumseh said to him one 
day: 

"Why not make another try to cap- 
ture Foil Meigs?" 

"We need more troops," said Proc- 
tor "You saw what happened last 
time." 

"But I have a plan whereby we 



could take Fort Meigs easily, even 
with what men we have now." 

"How would you manage it?" said 
the British general. 

"This way," said Tecumseh. "I will 
take my young men down there below 
the fort, march to the road in the 
rear, and there make a big fight." 

"What would that accomplish," in- 
quired Proctor. 

"Why. Gen. Harrison would think 
that one part of our forces were Long 
Knives com.ing to the tort, and that 
they were being attacked by my In- 
dians. Then he would come out to 
help what he thought were his friends. 
Then we would get between him and 
the fort, capture him. and take the 
fort." 

Proctor was struck by the ingenuity 
of the plan, and fitted out another ex- 
pedition at Amherstburg. He again 
appeared before Fort Meigs, and on 
the afternoon of July 25, 1813, the 
British formed an ambuscade in the 
ravine, just l)elow the fort. (See map.) 

The Indians then commenced a sham 
fight behind the fort about sunset. 
Gen. Clay was then in command. The 
American officers thought one of the 
parties was Harrison with reinforce- 
ments, who was being attacked by the 
British, and were anxious to go out to 
their aid. But Clay was a wary old 
soldier, and was not deceived. A tew 
cannon balls fell among the sham 
combatants and the mock "battle end- 
ed. Proctor and Tecumseh were bit- 
terly mortified by the failure of their 
ruse. 

Proctor then made an attack on Fort 
Stevenson (Sandusky), but was repuls- 
ed by Col. Croghan. Beaten and dis- 
pirited he returned to Amherstburg 
on Aug. 13, 1813. 

But the British were just as deter- 
mined as ever that they would hold 
Detroit, and again bring the whole 
northwest under their dominion. A 
fleet of war vessels was ordered built 
at Amherstburg, but another fleet to 
oppose it was also built by Oliver H. 
Perry at Erie, Pa. 

Then came the naval battle of Put- 
in-Bay, on Lake Erie, on Sept. 10, 181-3, 
in which for the first time in the 
world a British fleet was defeated and 
every ship and man captured. Harrison 
than landed an army about a mile 
below Amherstburg and with three of 
Perry's victorious ships sailing abreast 
of his army on the Detroit river, 
marched up to Detroit on the Canadian 
side. Proctor meanwhile had evacu- 
ated Detroit and marched up the 
Thames. He was followed by Harri- 
son, who defeated him at Moravian- 
town on Oct. 5, 1813. 

THE LABADIE HOUSE. 

It was on Sept. 29, 1813, that an 
event occurred which made the 
Labadie homestead famous in the 
history of Detroit. The house is one 
ot the few existing landmarks in De- 
troit, and is situated at the northwest 
corner of River and Twenty-fourth 
streets, overlooking the Detroit river. 
Whitmore Knaggs was still in captiv- 
ity at Quebec, and his half-ruined 
house at 'he mouth of Knaggs creek, 
about a quarter of a mile below the 
Labadie house, was still untenanted. 
The latter house, built by Pierre Des- 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



15 



comptes Labadie when he purchased 
the farm in 1781, is constructed of logs, 
and is about 40 feet wide, with 
spacious rooms and liitchen. In the 
steep roof is another habitable story, 
lighted by dormer windows, and above 
(his is a loft, under the center of 
which a man can stand upright, and 
which is lighted by windows in each 
gable. Maj. De Peyster was the Biit- 
ish conimandant at the time the hou.;e 
was built, and the young officers of 
the fort were fond of visiting Labadie, 
not for himself, but because he had 
some charming daughters. These vis- 
its continued until the British evacua- 
tion of Detroit, on June 11. 1796. But 
the daughters of Pierre did not taKe 
to the British gallants, and preferred 
Americans or those who sympathized 
with that side. Josette Labadie mar- 
ried Whltmore Knaggs; Marguerite, 
her twin sister, married James May, 
Judge and merchant, and MonKiue 
married Antoine Beaubien, a French 
resident, of old family. 

PERRY'S SHIP FIRED INTO IT. 

But the famous incident connected 
with the house, occurred, as stated, 
on the day that Detroit was recap- 
tured. About 2 p. m. on that dai 
Pierre Decomptes Labadie, with i.is 
children and grandchildren o£ tli:,' 
Knaggs family, were on the lawn ;>i 
front of the house, gazing at the 
spectacle. Around them was a band 
of British Indians, about 'Ml in nun.- 
bea, composed of Pottowattonnes, 
Chlppewas and Ottawas, who had 
come out of the forest and were aiiio 
taking in the sight. Across the river, 
in full view, they could see the Ameri- 
can troops, their bayonets and accoa- 
trcnients glittering in the sun, maicn- 
ing up the opposite bank to Saiid 
wich. Just then the three Ameri- 
can vessels of Perry's fleet hove into 
view. 

••GET DOWN ON YOUR STOMACHS." 

Labadie and Mrs. Knaggs and her 
children were standing in front of 
the Indians, when the former noticed 
a movement on the foremost vessel. 
He called out in l^Yench (he could not 
■speak English): 

"Here, you all get to the back of 
the house." 

They all went back and he lurther 
commanded, "Get down on your stom- 
achs," which was obeyed. A pulf 
of smoke came out of the side of the 
leading vessel, then a loud report, and 
the scream of iron grape shot. Anoth- 
er gun was discharged, two or three 
seconds later, and another scream of 
grape shot. The house was struck 
at the west side, and two or throe 
balls Imbedded in the logs. The In- 
dians Immediately broke and r..n 
across the farm to the woods, out 
they were evidently not much scared, 
for that very band managed to cross 
the river, and join the British troops, 
and were participants in the bati'o 
of the Thames, where Proctor was de- 
feated and Tecumseh slain. 

Next day the commander of tl'c 
vessel which had fired the shots came 
down the river, and spoke to old 
Labadie. He said he had fired at 
the Indians, whom he knew to be hos- 
tile to the Americans, but had been 



told afterwnrd that there were wh le 
people there. He appeared to be 
much gratified that no white people 
had been hurt by the grape shot. 

The house afterward became the 
I>r.iperty of Josiah Dorr, a Detroit 
business man, who covered the logs 
with clapboards, and fitted up the 
interior in elegant style. He sold 
the farm and house to Mary A. Arm- 
strong in ISIS. The farm was the.> 
divided, and subsequently the home- 
stead passed through several hands to 
a gentleman named Bacon. It was 
subsequently sold to John Newell, who 
was president of the Michigan Cen- 
tral railroad, for some 14 years. Ira 
D. Bush, wife and family, also lived 
in one-half of It, and Mrs. Bush .it- 
tended to the wants of Mr. Newell, 
who was a bachelor. When he died 
he left his estate to five persons, one 
of whom is Mrs. Bush, who receivt^s 
the income of one-third of it during 
her lifetime. John A. Bissell is the 
trustee. The house is now occupied 
by two families, each of whom pays 
$6 per month to the estate. 

THE MURDER OF McMILL,AN. 

During 1S14. although there were no 
British troops in the vicinity of De- 
troit, the place was terrorized by 
prowling Indians, who sometimes drove 
off the cattle of the settlers. One day 
in September. Ananias McMillan, with 
his little son. Archie, went out on the 
commons, where Capitol square Is now. 
to drive home the family cow. He 
was waylaid and killed by some In- 
dians, who took his scalp. The little 
boy ran towards home. An Indian 
mounted on horseback pursued him 
The little fellow struck at the horse 
and the animal swerved. This maneu- 
ver was repeated .several times, and 
finally the Indian dismounted, seized 
him and took him away. Gen. Cass 
called volunteers and 24 leading armed 
citizens turned out one morning and 
scoured the surrounding country. They 
killed several Indians, broke up a 
camp of the savages on the River 
Rouge, and returned the same evening. 
Gov. Cass then wrote to Gen. McAr- 
thur. in Ohio, and called for aid, and 
he sent a force of mounted men. 

Shortly after the McMillan murder 
there was a general exchange of pris- 
oners, and Whltmore Knaggs was ex- 
changed and returned home to De- 
troit. His house w-as still dismantled, 
and he stopped for a short time at the 
Labadie homestead with his wife and 
family. He was given a royal wel- 
come home, thousands of friends call- 
ing at the house to congratulate him 
and his family. He heard of the kill- 
ing of McMillan, and immediately took 
steps to have little Archie, who was 
held by the Indians for ransom, re- 
turned to his home. Other settlers also 
aided. James Knaggs. his brother, 
who had been in the vicinity of De- 
tro.i. for some time, even before the 
British evacuated the town, discov- 
ered the tribe which held Archie in 
captivity, and captured three of its 
members and broug'ht them to Detroit 
as hosta'-es. One of the noted Riley 
brothers of Detroit, then effected an 
exchange, and Archie was finally re- 
leased on Jan. 12, 1S15. He was then 



returned to his mother. Several of his 
descendants live in Detroit at the pres- 
ent time. 

WHAT THE INDIANS THOUGHT. 

The following letter, written by 
Whltmore Knaggs to Wililam Wood- 
bridge, secretary of Michigan terri- 
tory, shows that the British, even after 
peace had been declared between Great 
Britain and the United States, were 
still encouraging the Indians to believe 
that the former intended to subjugate 
the young repubUo and recover the 
northwest territory. 

Detroit, May 6. lisli. 
The Hun. Win. Woodbridge, S*;cretary of 

.vliehlgan; 

t.ii— By all the InCormation that I caa re- 
ceive from the Indians, t'ney tell me that 
the Chlppewas and Pottawatomies are go- 
ing daily to the British, The British have 
luld them that peace Is to Ja.st but for a 
short time, perhaps for one winter and sum- 
ii:er. and tella them to hold one another 
fast by the hand, and always keep tliem- 
sclves in readiness. In the month of April 
tiifc British have been sending belts of wam- 
pum and strings of wampum among these 
t'laerent nations. Principally the Chippe- 
wa nation ?eem indisposed to take their Am- 
eriian fath-Ts by the hand. The friendly 
li dians are of cpinlon that the Indians 
will commit hostilities on the Americans. 
They also spread notice that they are very 
fi-arlul that wlien tlie Americans so to take 
posfcesssion of .Micliihmackinac that they 
may meet with some diriiculties from the 
Indians at that place, and therefore would 
ad^ ise them to be on their guard, as they 
may try to lay a trap tor them. They 
observe that peace is made between England 
and America, but not with us tthe Indians). 
They are likewise fearful that they 
will make an attack on Fort Meigs. I 
liave this day received Infoi-mation from 
Cososh or Hog, that after his departure 
from this place he met with Francois Ca- 
dot. a British agent, which Information 
he received from him. w^lch was about the 
2«th of April. He ICadot) told him that 
peace was not made, and that he "would 
convince him about the middle of summer, 
which you will see, and at that time I 
will have the pleasure of laughing at you. 
Do you recollect being at Michillmacklnac? 
Yes? Did you not see that fort that we 
built? Yes. There Is not the bigness of a 
rail all around that fort but Is undermined. 
Therefore the Americans will never be able 
to land on the Island without being de- 
stroyed." Then (he Indians who were with 
Cadot went to Michllimackinac. With him 
are Jaco-Macatawacha. or Black Skin, and 
several young men. who observed that the 
Americans should never put their foot on 
the island of Michillmacklnac. I am. sir. 
your obedient, humble servant. 

W. KNAG<}S. Indian Agent. 

WHITMORE'S AFTER LIFE. 
After Whitmore Knaggs repaired his 
own house he resumed his duties as 
interpreter and Indian agent, and ac- 
companied Gov. Cass to several places 
in the northwest, where he made im- 
portant treaties with the Indians. Ac- 
companied generally by his young .sons 
he went to Vinccnnes. Chicago. Sagi- 
naw and other places, where impor- 
tant treaties were made with the In- 
dians. His record in connection wiih 
these treaties can be found in the 
United States statutes at large, vol. 
7; Richard Peters editor. Whitmore 
Knaggs, either as sworn interpreter, 
agent, sub-agent or witness, was pres- 



le 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



ent at the following Indian treaties, 
at the places and dates named: At 
Detroit, Nov. 17, 1S07; at Brownstown, 
Michigan territory, Nov. 25, ISOS; at 
foot of the Maumee rapids, Sept. 29, 
1S17; at St. Mary's, O., Sept. 17, ISIS; 
at Saginaw, Sept. 24, 1819, and at Chi- 
cago, Aug. 29, 1S21. The name of Will- 
iam Knaggs also appears as inter- 
preter at a treaty made at Sprlngwells, 
Just below Detroit, on Sept. S. 1S15. 
At the great Indian treaty of Saginaw 
in 1S19 his son, George B. Knaggs, 
was made chief of a tribe of In- 
dians, and was given a grant of 
3,000 acres. This will be related here- 
after in the history of his son. George 
Knaggs. 

In his later years he made out a 
claim for damages to his household 
property by the British and Indians, 
and It was audited by United States 
Commissioner Dee, of Detroit, at $8,- 
964. It was presented to congress, and 
Dewis Cass Indorsed the claim as just, 
and testified to that effect before the 
court of claims. The policy of the 
government at that time, however, was 
against granting any war claims where 
only partial damages were sustained 
by the enemy's occupation, and the 
claim was shelved. 

DISPOSED OF HIS PKOPEKTY. 

About 1S19 he gave his sons, George 
B. and John, a start In life. To George 
B. he conveyed a farm on the Mau- 
mee river. Just below the site of old 
Fort Miami, which was a part of the 
4,000 arpents granted him by the Ot- 
tawa Indians in 17S4; and to his son 
John he gave a farm on the Raisin 
river. John, however, wanted to be 
near hi.s brother, and reconveyed this 
farm to his father, who gave him In 
exchange a farm on the Maumee, 
below that of George B. 

On May 3, 1827, being then at tho 
point of death, he made his will, which 
was drawn by Charles Darned. He 
bequeathed to his eldest son, Peter 
Whitmore Knaggs and Catherine Vis- 
ger. his wife, three tracts of land, 
said to have aggregated 179 acres, 
situated "near and In the rear of Prai- 
rie Ronde. in Wayne county." These 
lands are about four miles from the 
Detroit city hall. In the township of 
Sprlngwells. To his son James W. 
Knaggs he gave a farm on the Mau- 
mee , adjoining that given to George B. 
To his daughter Elizabeth, then 15 
years of age, he gave the farm on the 
Raisin, formerly owned by his son 
John. He willed the entire Ivnaggs 
farm of 250.95 aores, and all his per- 
sonal property "to his wife. Josette 
ivnagfs, her heirs and assigns, for- 
ever, to be disposed of as she may 
deem expedient." His sons George and 
John were mentioned as having been 
already bequeathed farms. His col- 
ored servant, Mary, was left a legacy 
of $150. His wife was designated as 
executrix. 

He died two days afterward, on May 
5, 1827. His obsequies was very large- 
ly attended, many of the spectators be- 
ing Indians. The services were held 
in Ste. Anne's church, and Pr. Rich- 
ard preached the funeral sermon. His 
remains were deposited in the btuHal 
ground on the Bide of the church. 



which was then at the corner of 
Darned and Bates street. 

ABOUT THE ESTATE. 

The will was probated on June 4, 1827. 
From an examination of the papers 
filed It is evident that several are 
missing, but those remaining are as 
follows: 

One of the first bills against the es- 
tate was that of Fr. Gabriel Richard, 
parish priest of Ste. Anne's, for inter- 
ment and funeral services, $15, which 
was paid. David Cooper, Joseph Vis- 
ger and James May were appointed 
appraisers. An examination of the 
aifairs of the estate showed thai' 
money was needed, and on June 13, 
1S27, Mrs. Knaggs signed a conditional 
quit-claim deed, conveying the farm 
to James W. Knaggs, her son. TEe 
conditions were that she and her 
daughter Elizabeth and her servant 
Mary should be supported during her 
(Josette's) natural life. If Josette 
chose to live by herself, with her 
daughter and servant, then she was 
to be paid $250 annually. After Jo- 
.=ette's death, if Elizabeth wanted to 
live separately from James W., with 
Mary, then $125 annually should be 
paid. In default of these provisions 
the deed was to be null and void. On 
July 30. 1827, Josette petitioned to be 
relieved from the duties of executrix 
on account of ill-health, and that her 
son, James W. Knaggs, be appointed 
administrator with the will annexed. 
This was signed In the presence of 
James May, husband of her sister 
Marguerite. The court complied with 
her petition, which made considerable 
dissatisfaction in the family. George 
B. Knaggs, her son, on Aug. 6, 1S27, 
applied for a commission of lunacy to 
determine the sanity of his mother, 
Josette Knaggs. On Aug. 20 following, 
Josette petitioned the probate court to 
rescind the appointment of James W. 
as administrator, on the ground that 
her health was better. Peter W. and 
George B. Knaggs argued before the 
court that they were older than James 
W., and as such more entitled to be 
designated as administrator. But the 
argument of A. D. Frazer on behalf 
of James W., holding that primogeni- 
ture gave no rights to letters of ad- 
ministration, that James was the 
legal assignee, and had an exclusive 
interest in the estate, was adopted hi 
the probate court and a decision given 
to that effect. James W. Knaggs filed 
his bond in $5,000 as administrator, 
with Hugii McVey, Alexis Campau 
and Edward Brooks as sureties. On 
Aug. 27, 1S27, the appraisers of the es- 
tate reported that the personalty was 
valued at $7,269. On Dec. 17, 1827, 
James W. Knaggs filed a statement 
that according to his belief the estate 
could not pay its debts, and prayed 
that commissioners be appointed to 
receive and audit the claims against 
it. On the same date the inventory of 
the estate in Monroe county was filed, 
showing that it owned a certain farm 
on the north side of the River Raisin, 
containing 260 acres, with buildings 
thereon, at that time in possession oi 
Theophile Metty, and it was valued at 
$900, and a mare valued at $30. 

The next paper filed in chronological 
order was the report of the commis- 
sion appointed to inquire into Josette 



Knaggs's mental health. It reported 
in August, 1828, that she was a lunatic. 

James W. Knaggs was cited to ap- 
pear before Probate Judge Torry on 
Feb. 15, 1830, and exhibit his accounts. 
He did so, and reported that he had 
expended $245 30 to date, leaving a bal- 
ance of $1,S97 32 of personal estate as 
valued by the appraisers. His ac- 
counts showed that an aggregate of 
$70 75 had been paid for board of his 
mother and sister. 

The following record shows the 
passing of the estate out of the fam- 
ily. B. F. H. Witherell in his remi- 
niscences, said that Peter J. Desnoyer, 
whose son married Elizabeth Knaggs, 
had a claim of $1,500 against it, and 
this doubtless hastened its disposal. 
On June 30, 1832, Mrs. Knaggs signed 
a deed conveying the farm, which con- 
tained 250.95 acres, to her son, James 
W., without any conditions except the 
nominal consideration of $1, and on 
the same date it was conveyed to the 
heirs of John W. Strong by warranty 
deed for $3,600. It was subsequently 
sold to Thomas H. Hubbard in 183'4, 
who sold It by quit-claim deed In 1S35 
to Bela W. Hubbard for $1,000. The 
farm, with the exception of the lots 
sold since that time, belongs to the 
Bela Huljbard estate. 

But there was more litigation In 
after years. On June 3, 1857, George 
B. Knaggs, brother of James W., peti- 
tioned Probate Judge E. Hawley, Jr., 
at Detroit, to remove James W. as 
administrator, because he had not fin- 
ished the duties of that position; that 
a claim for damages against the Unit- 
ed States was not adjusted and re- 
mained unpaid; that it was necessary 
to appoint another administrator, and 
that he (George B.) be appointed to 
administer the personal property and 
credits of the estate. At this time 
George B. was living at Maumee and 
James W. at Toledo, some nine miles 
distant. On this showing George B. 
Knaggs was appointed administrator 
and his bond was approved June 28, 
1857. James W. Knaggs, answering 
during the same year, appears in the 
almost undecipherable writing of the 
late Levi Bishop, of Detroit. It as- 
serts that he had paid all the debts 
against the personal property of tBe 
estate; that the claim against the 
United States had been presented and 
once defeated, but that he would try 
it again; that, being the assignee of 
his mother, he was the sole person 
charged with presenting the claims 
of the estate against the United States 
or any other party, and that his broth- 
er George B., or any other next of kin, 
had no interest in the estate what- 
ever. The matter was tried in the 
probate court and decided In favor of 
James W. Knaggs, and he was re- 
Instated as administrator and his bond 
approved on Nov. 19. 1857. 

This ended all the litigation, and 
James W. Knaggs remained adminis- 
trator until his death. He revived the 
claim against the United States in 
1891 or 1S92, which, with principal and 
interest, had amounted to some $60,000. 
It was presented by Senator James 
McMillan in the senate and by Rep. 
Byron M. Cutcheon in the house. It 
now reposes in some pigeon-hole in a 
committee room, and will never be 
allowed. 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



17 



Mrs. Josette Labadie Knasss. 

Mrs. Josette Labadie Knaggs. after 
the sale of the Knaggs farm to the 
heirs of Elisha Strong In 1S32, lived 
with her sister Monique, who was 
married to Antoine Beaubien In 1S29. 
Beaubitn was a man of weak in- 
tellect, and Monique managed his large 
estate. She donated the site of St. 
Mary's catholic church, on the south- 
cast corner of St. Antoine street and 
Monroe avenue, and also the bells In 
the steeple of that edifice. She also 
donated the site of St. Mary's hos- 
pital, and the site of the convent of 
the Sacred Heart, on Jefferson avenue, 
between Beaubien ana St. Antoine 
streets. Detroit. Mrs. Beaubien died 
in 1851, and her husband mar- 
ried again. Mrs. Josette Knaggs 
then went to live in the hos- 
pital with the sisters of charity. 
Her mind had been deranged for 
years, and she died in that building 
about 1S53. Samuel May, her nephew, 
son of James May. told the writer re- 
cently that she was insane at the time 
of her death. 

Whitmore Knaggs and Josette Laba- 
die had five children— Peter Whitmore 
Knaggs, George Brown Knaggs. John 
Knaggs. James Whitmore Knaggs and 
Elizabeth Knaggs. 



Peter 'Whitmore Knaggs. 

Peter Whitmore Knaggs, generally 
styled Whitmore Knaggs, Jr., eldest 
son of Whitmore Knaggs. and grand- 
son of George Knaggs 1st. wa.s born in 
Detroit m 1798, one year after the mar- 
riage of his parents. In 1819, after he 
had attained man's estate, he married 
in Detroit Catherine Vlsger, daughter 
of Jacobus Visger. and grand aunt of 
the late James A. Visger. She was 
born in 1795. Old citizens say that she 
was an estimable young lady, beauti- 
ful of form and feature, anS was 
greatly loved and admired in the lit- 
tle community of Detroit. 

In 1827 Peter Whitmore Knaggs in- 
herited, under the will of his father, 
Whitmore Knaggs. considerable land 
in the vicinity of Detroit. The land 
consisted of three parcels of land 
which Whitmore Knaggs had purchas- 
ed from Leon Beauseau. Jacob Dix 
and Francis Renard, all described as 
being situated "near and in rear of 
Prairie Ronde, in Wayne county." The 
three parcels, it is said, aggregated a 
little less than 179 acres. The records 
of the property purchased from Jacob 
Dix and Francis Renard cannot be 
found in the ofHce of the Wayne coun- 
ty register of deeds, but that pur- 
ch.nsed from Leon Beauseau is de- 
scribed as SO acres, being the east half 
of the southeast quarter, section 5, 
town 2. south of range 11 east, of 
which the consideration was $180. This 
was purchased on April 23. 1S26, one 
year before the death of Whitmore 
Knaggs. and the other two parcels, 
which were situated near by, were 
pi-rh-i'' c] s.vera' years before that 
time. The Beauseau 80 acres are sit- 
uated on 'Warren avenue, about a 
mile and a half west of Livernols ave- 
nue, in Sprlngwells township, imme- 
diately adjoining McDonald's brick 



yard. The 179 acres changed hands 
several times. It went to Mrs. Woods 
in 1S22, and was deeded back to Peter 
Whitmore Knaggs the same year. Then 
the latter deeded It to Joseph Cam- 
pau, the largest land owner in De- 
troit, for $1,422. On Feb, 9, 1835, A. D. 
Frazer, guardian of the children of 
Peter Whitmore Knaggs, conveyed 
the 80 acre lot, first described, to Peter 
J. Desnoyers. From several facts re- 
lated by old citizens it would appear 
that Peter was a man of liberal hab- 
its, and was not a careful manager . 



AS INDIAN TRADER ON THE SHIA- 
'U'ASSEE. 

In 1820, just after he had attained 
legal manhood, he engaged in business 
as an Indian trader. At the treaty of 
Sept. 24, 1819, Gen. Cass concluded a 
treaty with the Chippewa Indians, 
whereby the Shiawassee bands of that 
nation had reserved from the land 
ceded to the government 3.000 acres, 
composed of what Is now portions of 
the townships of Burns, Vernon, Shi- 
awassee and Antrim townships in Shi- 
awassee county. This tract was known 
as the Kechewandangoning reserva- 
tion, and was not opened for white 
settlers until 1850. In 1820 Peter Whit- 
more Knaggs opened a trading post 
on the Shiawassee river in the reser- 
vation. He did not make a success, 
and left there about seven years later, 
probably at the time of his father's 
death in 1827, at which time, as above 
related, he inherited considerable land 
near Detroit. From the fact that he 
was always known as Whitmore 
Knaggs, Jr., old records of Shiawassee 
county would make It appear that it 
was his father that conducted the 
business there, as Peter did not use 
the "Jr." after his name. 

DID NOT ACQUIRE INDIAN LANDS. 

Peter Whitmore Knaggs claimed to 
have been granted certain lands by 
the Indians at the treaty of Saginaw 
in 1819, and made several misdirected 
efforts to obtain possession of them. 
On Feb. 23, 1836, the United States 
senate committee on Indian affairs 
reported on the petition of Nondashe- 
man, alias Peter W. Knaggs, who 
claimed that he was granted 640 
acres at the grand traverse of the 
Flint river, at the treaty of Saginaw; 
that he was unable to cultivate the 
same, and asked that he be allowed 
to sell the land. The committee re- 
ported that it had examined the 
treaty and found that his name was 
among the persons to whom said lands 
had been reserved. As there were 
no restriction to the sale of these 
lands, the committee considered that 
the petitioner might sell the lands 
without any act of congress. 

On Jan. 3, 1849, In the United States 
senate, the report of the committee 
on public lands. Senator Felch, of 
Michigan, chairman, on the petition 
of Peter Whitmore Knaggs, was sub- 
mitted. The petitioner claimed that 
at the treaty of Saginaw a section of 
land, reserved to Non-dar-he-man, 
was intended for and reserved to him, 



but that the land had subsequently 
been reserved to Maria G. Smith, and 
he now asked to locate a like quan- 
tity of land in its place. The commit- 
tee found that by the act of congress 
of June 23, 1836, the patents for this 
land was issued to Non-dar-he-man, 
or Maria G. Smith, a daughter of 
Jacob Smith, an Indian trader, de- 
ceased. The committee said that the 
grant to Maria G. Smith must stand 
unless the petitioner can submit 
convincing proof that he was the per- 
son interested, but he had not sub- 
mitted such proof. 

Peter Whtmore Knaggs, in the same 
petition, claimed that he had been 
granted a section of land on the 
Shiawassee river, at a place called 
Ketch-e-nam-gen-lnk, but the com- 
mittee said that such grants did not 
appear in the treaty, and resolved 
not to grant the petition. At this 
time (1849) Peter Whitmore Knaggs 
was dead. 

Mrs. Catherine Knaggs died in 1835, 
aged 40 years, at her husband's trad- 
ing post in Shiawassee county, and 
her remains were brought to Detroit 
and interred in the cemetery of St. 
Anne's church, on Larned street. Her 
husband died in 1848, at Toledo, while 
on a visit to relatives there. The 
family separated after the death of 
the parents From Ste. Anne's church 
records and other sources the follow- 
ing facts about the children, six in 
number, are gathered: 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Catherine Ann Knaggs, born at 
Detroit in 1S21, married John C. Miller 
at Miami, Ohio, on Nov. 25, 1S44. 
At the time of the marriage he was 
a dry goods merchant at Monroe, Mich. 
The family afterward removed from 
Monroe to Hillsdale about 1S4S. Mr. 
Miller died at Barnesvllle. Minn., on 
March 12, 1881, and his wife died at 
Frankfort, Ind., on July 21, 1S96, at 
the home of her daughter, Amelia. 
They had seven children, three boys 
and four girls, as follows: (1) Amelia 
Miller, born at Monroe, Mich., Sept. 
10, 1845; married J. J. Downer, rail- 
road conductor; resides at Frankfort, 
Ind. ; no children. (2) Caroline Augus- 
ta Miller, born at Monroe, Dec. 24, 
1847; resides at Crookston, Minn; un- 
married. (3) James Henry Miller, 
born at Hillsdale, Mich., on Nov. 15, 
1849; chief engineer of propeller S. 
C. Reynolds; resides at 850 Colfax 
street, Toledo, O. ; married Clara T. 
Hammond, of Buffalo. N. Y. Four 
living children, Hebbard Miller. Kate 
Miller, Donald Miller and Garth Miller. 
Another died in infancy. (4) 

Charles Edward Miller, born at Hills- 
dale on Dec. 26, 1851; died at same 
place Feb. 14, 185S. (5) William Wal- 
dron Miller, born at Hillsdale April 
10, 1854; general salesman for H. B. 
Claflin Co.'s wholesale house In New 
York city. (6) Catherine Ann Miller, 
born at Hillsdale, May 19, 1856; mar- 
ried F. D. Bell; died at Barnesvllle, 
Minn.. Feb. 16. 1894; her husband is 
station agent and expressman at 
Barnesvllle. (7) Mary Elizabeth 
("Mate") Miller, youngest child, born 
at Hillsdale, March 10, 1859; married 
W. F. Bath, farmer, Frankfort. Ind. 



18 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



(2) Elizabeth Knaggs, born In De- 
troit In 1S34. She died before 1857. 

(3) James Whltmore Knaggs was 
horn in Detroit about ■1S2R. and died 
unmarried in California about 1S52. 

(4) ■Pranois Kdward Knaggs, born In 
Detroit In 1S29. when last heard from 
was llvlngr at Dubuque. la. 

(5) Wm. Alexander Knaggs was 
born In Detroit In 1S31, spent his youth 
In Toledo, and left that city In ISSB, He 
settled first at Shawneetown. Kas.. 
where he engaged In trade with the 
Shawnee Indians. In 1862 he removed 
to Kansas City, where he was in the 
mercantile business until 1871, He 
then returned to Shawneetown and re- 
mained there until 1S99, He now lives 
.It Nowato, Cherokee nation, in the In- 
dian territory, and Is a member of that 
tribe by adoption. He married Susan 
Keeler at Shawneetown, Kas.. and 
became he father of three children as 
follows: (1) Arthur Hamilton Knaggs, 
born at Shawneetown, Kas,. Aug. 22, 
1863; died in the same place on Sept, 18. 
lS7e. (2) Edith Louise Knaggs, born in 
T'ansas City. Mo., Sept. 23. 1864, mar- 
ried Wm, Edgar Moak, livery stabl-^ 
keeper. July 8. 1895. No children, (3) 
Abby Corinne Knaggs. born In Shaw- 
neetown, Kas,, Oct. 6, 1867; died Nov, 
16. 1S69. 

(6) Charles Peter Frederick Knaggs, 
born In Detroit In 1S34, He was a vol- 
unteer In a Kansas regiment, and was 
mortally wounded at the battle of Bull 
Run, on July 21, 1861, and died in hos- 
pital soon after; unmarried, 

Geor]?e Bro-fvn Unasgn. 

George B, Knaggs, son of Whltmore 
Knaggs, and grandson of George 
Knaggs. 1st., was a leading resident 
of Toledo and the Maumee valley, 
where he spent the latter half of his 
life. He was a man of fine physique. 
six feet in hight. well proportioned, 
and weighed about 180 pounds, with 
small, well-shaped hands and feet. 




ance. He was quick and graceful In 
his motions and was an educated. 

HIGHLY-BRED GENTLEMAN. 

punctilious In social etiquette, being 
a perfect critic in that respect, and 
Incapable of actions or conduct con- 
trary to his Idi^'as of politeness and re- 
finement. He was a natural linguist, 
speaking English, French and st-vt-ral 



the post \ias surrendered at the latter 
date, his father. Whitmore Knaggs, 
who was a captain of the territorial 
mllltla, became a prisoner of war, and 
his home was despoiled by the Indians 
and British troops while on their way 
to the city. Mrs, Knaggs first removed 
her family to the house of Fr. Gabriel 
Richard, on the Detroit river about 
where the foot of Eighteenth street 




GEORGE B, KNAGGS WAITING FOR 
GEN. PROCTOR, 

His complexion was light and ruddy 
with pink cheeks, dark, expressive 
hazel eyes, and black curly hair. His 
oil portrait at the old home in Mau- 
mee City shows that he was a hand- 
some man of distinguished appear- 



tongues oif the Indian language. His 
dress, home and surroundings were all 
in keeping with his personality and 
character. His house at Maumee. 
built in 1825. and in which his wife 
and daughter still live, is a fine old- 
fashioned place, and he kept the 
grounds in perfect taste, with beauti- 
ful flowers and shrubbery and choice 
fruit trees, and was never happier 
than when entertaining his friends, 
among whom were the most distin- 
guished persons in the land. In dis- 
position he was kind and charitable, 
and of unquestioned honor and integ- 
rity, never trespassing upon the rights 
of others and never allowing others to 
trespass upon him. In those early 
days in the Maumee valley he was 
ever looking after the interests of 
newcomers in that locality, and in 
aiding them in settling there with 
their families. 

TRIED TO KILL, PROCTOR 
George Brown Knaggs was born 
in Detroit at his father's house 
on January 4, 1800. Being rear- 
ed amid war's alarms, with 
a father and uncles of military tastes, 
he was induced at the early age of 12 
years to enter into a plot to kill that 
exalted but hated personage. Gen, 
Henry Proctor, the British commander 
who ruled Detroit for 13 months after 
its surrender in Aug. 16, 1812. When 



would be if extended to the river. Here 
also was Ste. Anne's church convent 
and school, which had been removed 
to this place after these buildings were 
burned in the great Are of 1805, After 
staying there a ihort time Mrs, Knaggs 
removed her family to the home of her 
father, Pierre Descomptes Labadie, 
which is still standing on the river at 
the foot of Twenty-fourth street, one- 
quarter of a mile above ^e family 
home, which stood at the northwest 
corner of Swain avenue and River 
street, at the mouth of Knaggs creek. 
George had a natural hatred of the 
British, and it was suggested that he 
Blay the British general by shooting him 
as he passed along the road in front 
of the house. He was a good shot 
with a rifle, and with a boy's logic 
identified Proctor with the imprison- 
ment of his father, and the damaging 
of the family home. Gen, Proctor had 
headquarters both at Fort Lernoult, 
afterward Fort Shelby, in Detroit, and 
Fort Maiden, at Amherstburg, Canada, 
18 miles below on the opposite side of 
the Detroit river, and visited both for- 
tresses frequently. Sometimes he was 
accompanied by mounted officers of 
his staff, and at other times he rode 
quite alone from Detroit to a point in 
Springwells township, where there was 
a ferry boat on which he crossed the 
river. Whether George originated the 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



19 



Idea or adopted the suggestion of 
French farmers living near by, is not 
known, but he took steps to carry it 
out. He erected a barricade o£ boards 
and fence rails on the side of the road. 
and practiced shooting therefrom at 
a mark for several days. Some of the 
neighboring boys became curious over 
his actions, and he imparted liis plan 
to them with Juvenile frankness. The 
news was carried to his motlier, who 
summoned him before her forthwith, 
and sternly commanded him to desist. 

"Do you know what will happen if 
you shoot Proctor?" she demanded. 

•■Oh, yes," said George, eagerly. 

"Mr. and Mr. and Mr. 

(mentioning the names of several 
French farmers near by) told me that 
it would be a fine thing to do, as Proc- 
tor is a bad. cruel man. who keeps my 
father in prison, and they all said that 
when I shot him they would carry me 
to Gen. Harrison's army, where the 
Britishers couldn't catch me." 

"My son." said his mother, "if you 
shoot Proctor, they will shoot your 
father, and they would put us all in 
prison. Don't you do it. my boy." 

"All "ghl. I won't." said George, 
"but, mother," he added, regretfully, 
"I could have popped him over so 
easy." 

STUDIED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. 

Mrs. Knaggs. like many French ma- 
trons, had an ambition to be the moth- 
er of a priest, and George was early 
designed for the ministry. He was 
sent to St. Thomas college, a catholic 
Institution at Bardstown. Ky. While he 
was studying there he became con- 
vinced that he had no vocation for the 
priesthood, and after he had so in- 
formed his ecclesiastical superiors he 
took the first opportunity to leave for 
home. At that time the parish of Ste. 
Anne's, which extended from the River 
Raisin to Sault Ste. Marie, was under 
the spiritual jurisdiction of Benedict 
Joseph Flaget. bishop of Bardstown. 
The marguilleries of the Cote du Nurd 
church, which was situated on the 
Church farm. Hamtramck. where Hel- 
ler's hotel now stands, were in rebel- 
lion against the spiritual authority of 
Fr. Richard. They pretended to be the 
original incorporators of Sle. Anne's 
church, which had been burned in th€ 
great Are of 1805, and that the tem- 
porary church and school at the foot 
of Eighteenth street, Detroit, presided 
over by Fr. Richard, was not the 
rightful successor of Ste. Anne's. Th-j 
dispute was referred to Bishop Flaget, 
who upheld Fr. Richard. The mar- 
guilUers rebelled against his pastor- 
al, and he then interdicted the church 
of Cote du Nord and excommunicated 
the marguilleries. To heal the unhappy 
schism Bishop Flaget left Bardstown 
on May 15, ISIS, and traveled through 
the wilderness to Detroit, a distance of 
about 1,000 miles. . on horseback. He 
was accompanied by Frs. Bertrand and 
Janvier and by George Knaggs and 
another young man named Godfroy. 
The bishop, at the head of a grand 
procession started from Ste. Anne's at 
the foot of Eighteenth street, on the 
river road, with the military band of 
the fort in front. As it passed the fort 
it was saluted by a salvo of artillery. 
Arrived at the Cote du Nord 
Est church, an affecting scene 



ensueu. The rebellious mar- 

guilleries knelt before the bishop 
and kissed the episcopal ring on his 
hand, and a perfect submission and 
reconciliation took place. On return- 
ing to Detroit the bishop laid the cor- 
ner-stone of the fifth church of Ste. 
Anne at the northeast corner of Bates 
and Larned streets. 

AT 'WEST POINT. 

George B. Knaggs then ex- 
pressed a desire to enter the 



er. and the advice of Lewis Cass, ac- 
cepted it, and became the head of the 
tribe. The head men then made him 
a gift of .a large tract of land, said to 
contain 3.1X10 acres, in the vicinity of Or- 
chard lake, near Pontiac. The country 
at that time was wild and population 
scarce, although the prospects of Pon- 
tiac, a few miles distant, seemed ex- 
ceptionally favorable. In that year 
llS19) hydraulic works, flouring and 
saw mills and other big Improvements 
had been instituted at Pontiac by a 




IIK GliOKGK H. KNAlilJS HOUSK. MAL'MEE. O. 
(Built in 1823.) 



military service and his father's 
influence with Gov. Cass easily 
procured his admission to the 
L'nited States milit ary academy at 
West Point, where he remained for 
some time, but did not graduate. 
His father became ill, and requested 
him to resign and come back to help 
him in his official duties. He did so, 
and when he returned he became aji as- 
sistant of his father, who was Indian 
agent and interpreter, and accompa- 
nied him to Vincennes, Chicago, Sag- 
inaw and other places, where impor- 
tant treaties were negotiated with the 
Indians, at which his father was thc 
otficial interpreter. George, like his 
father and brothers, was proficient in 
several Indian dialects, and was gen- 
erally liked by the red men. At Vin- 
cennes his father took with him the 
young son of an Indian cliief, 
and the two boys became great 
friends. The young Indian, however, 
was shot and killed at Mackinac by 
a drunken Indian. His father adopted 
George as his son and died soon after. 
At the great Indian treaty at Sagi- 
naw in Islii, George and his brother, 
James U'hitmore Knaggs. accompanied 
their father. 

AN INDIAN CHIEF. 
The tribe of Indians which had lost 
their chief and also his son offered to 
make George Knaggs their chief. They 
could not agree on any other member 
of the tribe, and it was necessary for 
the chief to sign the treaty. George 
refused the honor at first, but subse- 
quently, at the solicitation of his fath- 



party of Detroit's most prominent cap- 
italists including Judge A. B. Wood- 
ward. Stephen Mack, Shubael Conant, 
Henry Jackson Hunt and others, and It 
was prophesied that the new city 
would eclipse Detroit In a very short 
time. Indians could not convey their 
lands to the whites, as such, but 
when whites were adopted by Indians 
they acquired equal privileges with the 
red men. 

But George did not think enough of 
the gift to reside on the land tor the 
time specified by law, and although his 
father built him a house there he did 
not live in it. It subsequently became 
the property of Lewis Cass, who trad- 
ed it with the Indians for lands in St. 
Joseph county. 

CL.BRK FOR HENRY J. HUNT. 

George B. Knaggs, after being elect- 
ed an Indian chief, became a clerk 
to Henry Jackson Hunt, a leading mer- 
chant of Detroit, who succeeded Angus 
Mcintosh in business, and occupied his 
store on the river, in rear of Dwyer & 
Vhay's store, at the southeast corner 
of Jefferson avenue and Cass street, in 
Detroit. The connection was brief, 
but resulted in considerable benefit to 
Hunt, as young Knaggs attracted a 
large Indian trade to the store. One 
day during his employer's absence he 
captured the season's trade of an en- 
tire tribe, to the extent of over $1,000 In 
gold and silver. When Hunt returned 
and was shown the money, he was sur- 
prised and gratified, and said: "I ought 
to have had you here years ago-" Hea- 



20 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



ry Jackson Hunt signed his middle 
name with the Initial "I" because he 
did not carry the curve of the "j"' be- 
low the line of the other letters. Old 
residents of Detroit still refer to him 
a.s Henry I. Hunt on account of this 
peculiarity. He was the second mayor 
of DeU'oit in 1S26. and klied in the same 
year. 

SETTLED ON THE M.VUMEB. 

(Jenrge Knaggs then went into part- 
nership with his brother John as Indian 
traders, at Hockbar. which is opposite 
to, and named after, a rock in the 
Mnumee river, near Fort Miami, 
where his father was born This was on 
the large tract of land given by the 
Indians to his father in 1784. Trade be- 
roniing dull he became a clerk at 
Mauniee for John Elliott Hunt, brother 
nf Henry Jackson Hunt, and father of 
Mrs. B. A. Brush, of Detroit. In 1825 
lie built a house on the Mauraee on 
iiis father's land, which is still occu- 
pied by his widow and daughter. His 
ff.rm had about 31X1 acres; that of his 
brother. James W., adjoined it. and 
was of the same size; and the farm 
of Ills brother John was about 600 
acres. 

In 1828 he married Matilda Lee, of 
I'enn Tan, N. Y., in Detroit. She 
was an estimable lady of fine appear- 
ance, and was in every way a true 
and beautiful woman, beloved by all 
who knew her. They had one child, a 
boy. wqho died when he was about 3 
years old. Mrs. Knaggs died in 1847, 
leaving no children. His second 
wife, who still survives, was Miss 
Laura Bosley. of Bosley's Mills, Gen- 
eseo. Livingston county, N. T., whom 
he married in 1849 at Sandusky, O. She 




MRS. KEYSOR, 

widow of George B. Knaggs, Son of 

Whltmore Knaggs. 

was an acknowledged belle, and con- 
sidered one of the most beautiful 
young ladies in the Maumee valley. 
1.ET TWO FRENCH PRINCES. 
While on a visit to his relatives in 
Detroit in 1845, with the intention of 
proceeding from there to New York 
city, he met Gen. Lewis Cass, who 
said: "You are the very man I want- 
e^l to see." He went to the Cass resi- 



dence, where he was introduced to the 
Duke de Joinville and the Duke 
d'Aumale, sons of King Louis Phillippe 
of France, who with their suite had 
Just returned from Green Bay, Wis. 
Their suite consisted of Marshal Ber- 
trand, Count Montholon, Viscount 
Montesquieu and several servants. I- 
appears that Louis Phillippe had heard 
that a man named Rev. Eleazar Will- 
iams, an Indian missionary in the 
episcopal church of the United States, 
claimed that he was the son of Louis 
XVI. and Queen Antoinette, who had 
bfen beheaded, and was conseuuently 
the dauphin and entitled to the throne 
of France. To ascertain whether his 
story was true the young princes came 
to the United States, chartered the 
steamer Columbus at Buffalo and pro- 
ceeded to Grpen Bay, where Williams 
was preaching to a tribe of Indians. 
When they saw and spoke to him, 
however, they became convinced that 
he was either a willful imposter or a 
person deceived by foolith storiis 
Williams was we'd Icnown in 
Detroit. When the first St. Paul's 
church, on the east side of Woodward 
avenue, between Larned and Congress 
streets, was consecrated— on Aug. 24, 
1S27— he read the consecration service, 
and he was frequently in the city af- 
terward. He died at Hoganstown, N. 
Y., in 1S5S. 

When the two princes were on their 
way back they stopped at Detroit and 
were entertained by Gen. Cass. They 
had great curiosity to know the sit- 
uation in the surrounding country, 
which was once under French rule. 
Cass was much .gratified on being able 
to furnish a historian on those sub- 
jects like George ICnaggs, who was 
gentlemanly, finely educated and spoke 
French like a native. George accom- 
panied the princes on their steamboat 
trip to Buffalo, where he bade them 
tarcweli. and went to New York via 
Lake Champlain. 

Prince d; Joinville came to the Unit- 
rd States again in 1861, accompanied 
l.y his nephew, the Count de Pans 
:.nd the Duke de Chartres. They 
.loined the staff of Gen. McClellan and 
look an active part in the Chicka- 
hominy campaign. 

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. 

Among the many distinguished per- 
sons who were George B. Knaggs's 
friends and guests at his Mau- 
mee home were: Gen. William 
Henry Harrison, who was enter- 
tained there during his successful 
campaign for the presidency in 1840; 
Richard M. Johnston, vice-president 
under President Van Buren; Gov. Lew- 
is Cass, Mrs. Cass and their daughter 
Belle, afterward Baroness von Lim- 
burg; Mrs. Gen. Geo. B. McClellan; 
Gov. Lucas of Ohio, at the time of the 
Toledo war; Gov. Hull of Michigan and 
his nephew, Isaac Hull. Isaac lived 
at Maumee and was also the nephew of 
Commodore Isaac Hull, who command- 
ed the frigate Constitution when she 
defeated the British frigate Guerriere 
in 1812. Other prominent people were: 
Gen. George Croghan, the hero of Fort 
Stephenson at Sandusky, who defeated 
Gen. Proctor; Gen. James B. McPher- 
son, who was killed at Atlanta in 1SG4, 
and who visited the Knaggs home in 



company with his sister, Mrs. Fred- 
eric Vandercook: Chief Justice Warner 
Wing of Michigan and wife, the latter 
being a daughter of Col. John Ander- 
son of Monroe, and Elizabeth Knaggs, 
who was the daughter of George 
Knaggs, the progenitor of the Knaggs 
family of Ohio and Michigan; Morrison 
R. Waite, chief justice of the United 
States supreme court; Mrs. Betsie 
Forsyth Nelson, who married a de- 
scendant of Lord Nelson; Gen. John 
Elliott Hunt and family, which Inclnd- 




MISS ANTOINETTE KNAGGS. 

Maumee, Daughter of George B. Knaggs. 

Granddaughter of Whitmore Knaggs. 

ed Mrs. Eliza Hunt Brush of Detroit; 
Mrs. Sophia Hunt Smith, wife of Den- 
ison B. Smith of Toledo, and many 
other prominent persons. 

Their only child, Antoinette Knaggs. 
is a very superior lady and also a fine 
business woman. After her father's 
death, she was educated at the Ur=u- 
line convent, in Toleoo. She man- 
ages an extensive dairy on 
the farm, the product of which 
is sold to wholesale dealers 
in Toledo. When the electric line from 
Toledo, which passes the farm, was or- 
ganized several years ago, she secured 
three miles of the right of way for 
the company. She also served as 
school directer for the third ward of 
Maumee six years, being elected by the 
largest majorities ever given a candi- 
date in that town. 

A SUCCESSFUL SPECULATOR. 
Although George Knaggs never had 
any serious financial difflculties, he ex- 
perienced several ups and downs in his 
business life. In 1S36, when the west- 
ern land boom attained its largest 
dimensions, he sold his farm, with the 
exception of a homestead of seven and 
one-half acres, and invested in Toledo 
property. He purchased a large tract 
on Collingwood and Ashland avenues, 
Toledo, now fine residence streets, and 
his brothers, John and James W., also 
invested in the same localities. Besides 
this purchase he bought 900 acres at the 
mouth of the Maumee, at localities 
now known as Presque Isle and Iron- 
viile. From these investments he 
cleared about $30,000. But he suffered 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



21 



considerable losses as stockholder and 
director of the Maumee City Insurance 
bank. 

He died on Oct. 23. 1S65, In his sixty- 
fifth year. He was burled with his 
first wife and child, on the farm, in a 
private burial ground, about 50 yards 
from his home. Two years after his 
death his widow married Chaun- 
cey C. Keysor, a coal dealer 
and vessel owner of Toledo. 
Mr. Keysor owned the Georg-e 
B. Knaggs farm, and he sold 110 acres 
of it to Miss Antoinette Knaggs. hi.'< 
wife's only child. so that the 
property all came back into tiie 
family. He d'ed on .4us. 3, VfH. 
leaving all his property to the widow. 
The widow and daughter live In the 
old homestead, on the Knaggs farm, 
which is on the Maumee river, about 
nine miles above Toledo. 



The Walpole Indian Knaesa. 

George Knaggs, of Walpole Island, 
forwards a statement of his member- 
ship in the Knaggs family, and also 
his descendants as folows: 

"I was born at Maumee, O., between 
Christmas and New Tear's, In 1S21. My 
father was George B. Knaggs and my 
mother was an Indian woman named 
Kah-ba-yan-ban-no-qua. Since I re- 
member my father used to live In 
Maumee. O. Some time in 1S26, when 
I was a little boy. my father, George 
B. Knaggs, used to give me some 
clothing and some provisions. I wa« 
married when I was about 20 years 




GEORGE KNAGGS, 
Of Wajpole Island, Ont. 

of age. My first wife's nam© wafl 
Now-quash-kum-mo-qua. I now give 
a list of my sons and daughters and 
their children: 

(1) John Knaggs, my eldest son, 
was born at Maumee, O.. In 1S44. and 
died in 1SS3. He married on Walpole 
island, Mah-nee. and she died about 
1SS7. Two children (1) Wilson Knaggs 
married Bebe but he had no children. 
Both live on Walpole Island. (.2) Char- 
lotte Knaggs married Peter Willis, on 
Walpole island. Charlotte died about 
seven years ago. Two children living. 

(2) Eliza Knaggs married John Ma- 
noaqudoo. Two children: (1) Jennie 



Manoaqudoo, married Moses Sagatch- 
ewan. Two children. (2) Another 
daughter died unmarried in 1901. 

My second wife, Ke-wa-tin. I mar- 
ried on Walpole island, and she bore 
me tliree children, and died about 1S92. 

(3) Louisa Knaggs, married an In- 
dian nymed James U^Igin. Ki\'e chil- 
dren. (1) Eliza Elgin, born July 10, 
1S6S. Her child, Stafford Thomas, was 
born on Sept. IS, 1S94. (2) Augustus 
Elgin, born Dec. 7, 1S70, married and 
had one child, Pearl Elgin. His wife 
died and he married .A.melia Thomas. 
No children. (3) Rachel Elgin, born 
March 24, 1S73, married Richard 
George. Two children: Nancy George 
and Philip George. (4) Josephine El- 
gin, born Oct. 20, 18.S4: unmarried. (5i 
Lizzie Elgin, born Oct. 21. 1SSS7; un 
married. 

(4) Elizabeth Knaggs married Will- 
iam Nahdee. She died in 1SS4. Four 
children: (1) Albert Nahdee. married 
in l!xn. no children. C2) Bella Nah- 
dee. married She-baw-sin. Two chil- 
dren. f3) Wil'iam Nahdee: unmar- 
ried. (A) Martha, Nahdee. unmarried. 

(5) Henry Knaggs. farmer and trad- 
er, was born on Walpole island in IS'S 
He married Wa-say-au-bin ("English 
narnp Jnne1. Nine children: (1) An- 
nie Knaggs. married .Albert Saiigutch, 
schoolmaster: one child. f2"i Beatrice 
Knaggs married Edward 'Wrlehtman. 
No children. fSI Elizabeth Knaggs: 
unmarried ("4) Alexander Knaggs, died 
while attending the Canadian Indian 
school at Sault Ste, Marie, in 1S99. aged 
14 years, f.^) George Knaggs. ffi) Sam- 
uel Knaggs. (7) Rebecca Knaggs, (S) 
Jessie Knaggs, and (9) Paul Knaggs 
are attending school on Walpole Isl- 
and. 

Jobn Knagrsrs. 

John Knag.gs, son of Whitmore 
Knaggs, and grandson of George 
Knaggs 1st. was bnrn at Detroit in 
1S02. In his prime he was a man of 
striking and even distinguished ap- 
pearance, like his brothers, George and 
James W. He was very tali, being 
about six feet three inches in 
height, and weighed about two hun- 
dred and forty pounds, well propor- 
tioned and very strong, with a fair 
complexion and brown hair and eyes. 
Both in speech and motion he pos- 
sessed the faculty of a happy medium, 
being neither too deliberate on the 
one hand nor too quick on the other. 
In disposition he was open and frank, 
telling what was his honest belief on 
all subjects, without being brusque or 
discourteous, and was scrupulously 
honorable in all his dealings. 
A WELL-DRESSED MAN. 

He was always attired in the best 
dress of his day. like other gentle- 
men of social consideration, and was 
a well-educated man. although the 
family do not remember the 
place or manner of its acquire- 
ment. He early showed the family 
bent in the direction of trading with 
the Indians, and he could converse 
in several aboriginal languages as 
well as in French and English. 
AN INDIAN TRADER. 

In 1S19, when he was 17 years of age, 
he was appointed a lieutenant of 
Michigan militia by Governor Lewis 



Cass. His first occupation In life was 
as an Indian trader, in partnership 
with his brother George, at a point 
on the Maumee river, a short distance 
below the site of old Fort Miami. The 
latter place is now a part or Mau- 
mee City, nine miles above Toledo. 
The brothers boarded for a time at 
the house of Elisha Gunn. a farmer. 




MRS. M.\L1.^U.\ KNAGGS. 

Wife 01" John Knaggs. son of Whitmore 

Knaggs. 

nearby, and there John fell in love 
with Malinda Elizabeth Gunn. the 
youngest daughter. Her mother was 
a member of the noted Carver family, 
being a lineal descendant of John Car- 
ver, one of the party of Englishmen 
who left their country for tne sake of 
religion, proceeded to Leyden, subse- 
quently emigrated to America on the 
Mayflower in 1620, and was the first 
governor of Plymouth colony. The 
nearest catholic church was on the 
Raisin, at Monroe, and they were 
married there on February 10, 1823. 
when he was 21 years of age. The 
youthful pair first lived in a frame 
house on the Maumee. and about six 
miles south of Toledo. After the part- 
nership was dissolved by the falling 
off of the Indian trade, John cultivat- 
ed his farm, which was named Rock- 
bar, so called from a large rock in the 
Maumee opposite his holding. This 
was the third farm north of the 300- 
acre farm of his brother George, 
and consisted of about BOO acres. 
SUCCESSFUL SPECULATOR. 
When the western fever commenced 
about 1S30, there was a great demand 
for farming lands on the Maumee, 
as well as on other streams in the 
Michigan territory, with a consequent 
appreciation of land values. In 1S36 
he sold his farm advantageously and 
moved into Toledo, and his example 
was followed by his brothers, James 
W. and George B. In that city John 
Knaggs purchased a large tract of 
land on what is now Collmgwood 
avenue, now a fine residence district. 
He then sold the land at a fine profit, 
and purchased a tract of 200 acres in 
Wes', Toledo, where LenKs's wine 
press now stands, and which contains 



22 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



one of the largest wine cellars In the 
country. Here he died in 1S46, aged 
44 years. His wife died in Toledo on 
Sept, 20, 1SS5. They had ten children. 
Owing to the burning of a bible 
which contained the family records, 
the following dates are given from 





LEONA S. KNAGGS, 
Jjaughter of Ht-nry G, Ivnagtirt, gianj- 
dauglUt-r of Joiin Knaes^. gieai gjand- 
daushtt-r of Whitmore Knaggs. 

memory, but are approximately cor- 
rect: 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Eliza Knaggs, born at Miami 
Dec. 20, 1823, married Timothy O'Con- 
nell, commission merchant, Toledo, in 
1S45, and died in 1S4S. No children. 

(2) John W. Knaggs, farmer, was 
born at Miami, on the Maumee river, 
on Jan. 7, 1^25. He removed to Toledo 
with the rest of the family In 1S36, when 
Ills fatlier sold his farm. He married 
Wealthy tj. Gunn, daughter of W iliard 
Gunn, on April 23. 1S46. Willard Gunn, 
like his distant relative, Elisha Gunn, 
was one of the early settlers of north- 
western Ohio, and resided three quar- 
ters of a mile north of the village of 
Waterville. They first lived on a larm 
belonging to John Knaggs lor three 
years. Then with his brother, Wor- 
lington Knaggs, he opened a hotel in 
the ICnaggs liomestead at West Tole- 
do, where the famous Lenks wine cel- 
lars now stand. Here they remained 
two years and then sold out to W. H. 
Fyte. John W. Knaggs then moved on 
to his own farm, five miles south of 
Waterville, where the family lived for 
19 years and where he kept a general 
store on the bank of the Miami Ac 
Krie canal, which runs through the 
farm, and sold supplies to the boats 
plying between Toledo and Cincinnati. 
He also owned a boat on the canal 
and a stone quarry on the Maumee 
river opposite the farm. John W. 
Knaggs died suddenly on Oct. 2. 1S91, 
of heart disease while on a trip to 
Toledo. His wife, now 75 years of 
age, lives in the Willard Gunn home- 
stead, where the family has lived since 
1S70, Mrs. Knaggs having innerited a 
portion of it from her father. They 
had eight children, of whom three sur- 
vive: (1) Elizabeth M. Knaggs, born 



May 14, 1847, died March 19, 1852. (2) 
Wealthy L. Knaggs, born Oct. 4. 1850, 
died March 6, 1852, two weeks before 
the death of her sister Elizabeth. 
(3) Wallace M. Kn.aggs, born March 
7. 1S53, died Sept. 19. 1870. (4) Marie 
L. Knaggs, born Feb. 19, 1855. unmar- 
ried, lived with her mother in Willard 
Gunn homestead. (5) John W. Knaggs. 
born May 2G, 1857, died April 2C. 1858. 
(tj) Emma H. Knaggs, born Sept. 3, 
1861. married Torrence Isham June 26, 
1892. Two children— (1) Wealthy May 
Isham. born July 1. 1893, and (2) Marie 
Isham. born July 14. 1895, died Feb. 14. 
1896. They live in the old Isham 
homestead. (7) Eva W. Knaggs, 
twin sister of Emma H., died Oct. 12, 
1.S63, (S) Dc;ia May Knaggs, born Sept, 
]■;, 186S. married Arthur H, Ray, farmer, 
on March 6. 1885. They live on a 
part of the Knagg.s farm, which he 
manages. Three children — (1) Delia 
Iris Ray. born Oct. 20. 1886: (2) Philip 
RoUand Ray, born Nov. 30, 18S8;and (3) 
an infant daughter, born May 2, 1893, 
died in seven hours after birth. 

(3) Maria Knaggs, torn at Miami; 
died at five y;-ars of age. 

(4) Adeline Josette Knaggs, born at 
Miami in ls:S; married Dr. William W. 
Jones of Toledo, on Feb. 15, 1851. Her 
husband was a prominent physician 
and a public-spirited citizen. He was 
president of the Toledo common coun- 
cil in 1857, and was electea mayor of 
that city in 1871, 1873 and 1877, serving 
six years. He died on May 30. 1892. 
Children: Wm. M. Jones, cashier of 
Finlay Brewing Co., Toledo; Ada M. 
Jones, wife of Fred J. Blakely, former- 
ly of Detroit, manager of Miami Stone 
Co., Toledo; John K. Jones, commer- 
cial traveler, Toledo; Dr. Grace Jones, 





ADELINIC JOSIiTTE K.N'.VGGS. 
Widow of Dr. Wni. Junes, daughttjr of Joiin 
Knaggs, and granddaughter of Whitmore 
Knaggs, 

M. D., who is a graduate of the Toledo 
Medical college, Toledo; and Frank 
H. Jones, bookkeeper, Detroit. 

(5) Capt. Worllngton Knaggs, born 
at W^est Toledo, in 1831, is 
now an oil dealer at Portage. 
O. He married Cynthia Haskins 
at Portage. Children: Worllng- 
ton Knaggs, Jr., farmer. Portage; 
Mrs. Lottie Knaggs Carlln, Portage; 



Mortimer Knaggs, first lieutenant 6th 
Ohio regiment, who died in Cuba in 
1899. and is buried in the National 
cemetery at Washington; Forrest 
Knaggs, farmer. Portage; Mrs. Iva 
Knaggs Vandenberg, Findlay, O. 

(C) Henry G, Knaggs, born at West 
Toledo in 1834, was a furniture dealer 




ADELAIDE M. KNAGGS. 
Daughtt--r of Henry G. Knaggs, grand- 
daughter of John Knaggs. great grand- 
daughter of Whitmore Knaggs. 

in Springfield. Mass.. but is now in 
bad health. He married May Eddy, of 
Springfield, Mass. Two living daugh- 
ters— Leona S. Knaggs was born in 
Waterville, O., March 16. 1877. Adeline 
M. Knaggs was born in Spencer. 
Mass., Nov. 26, 1880. Another child, 
born in Springfield, Mass, died on Feb. 
20, 1880. 

(7) Maria Knaggs, born at West To- 
ledo in 1836. She was married four 
Limes, her husbands being named L/ea- 
vitt, Wliittlesey, Sheidan and Valen- 
tine, respectively. Tlie first two hus- 
bands died of consumption, the third 
under an operation, and the fourth is 
now living in New York city. She 
.lied at Portland. Ore., in 1899. She left 
liiree sons, Frederick Whittlesey, un- 
married, born in 1855, is a painter and 
decorator, and is now in Mexico. 
Granville Whittlesey, unmarried, 
■born in 1862, is practicing med- 
icine in St. Louis, Mo. ; Claude S. 
Whittlesey, born April 1, 1804, married 
Cora Lumpkin at Guthrie, Ok., Feb. 
14, 1802; three children, Harry Ray 
Whittlesey, born 1893; Cora Marie 
Whittlesey, born 1895, and Webb F. 
Whittlesey, born 1901. 

(8) Mortimer Knaggs, born at West 
Toledo; died at 10 years of age of scar- 
let fever. 

(9) Sophia Josephine Knaggs, born 
at West Toledo; married Henry J. 
Hitchcock, civil engineer, Toledo. He 
died in Arizona in 1883. One child, 
Charles Henry Hitchcock, who died 
in 1891, aged 26 years. Mrs. Hitchcock 
lives with her sister, Mrs. Adeline 
Josette Knaggs Jones in Toledo. 

(10) Virginia Knaggs, born at West 
Toledo; died In Infancy. 



WHITMORE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



23 



jHnieH W. Ivnng:s!i. 

James Whitmore Knaggs, youngest 
son of Whitmore Knaggs and grand- 
son of George Knaggs 1st. was born 
In his father's house, at the mouth rf 
Knaggs creek, Detroit, on March 17. 
1SD4. He waa a studious youth, and. 
like his father, uncles and brothers, 
was a good linguist, being proficient 
In speaking and writing English, 
French and Latin, and could also con- 
verse in several Indian tonirues In 
manhood he was a handsome specimen 
of the genus homo, being six feet three 
inches :n hlght and weigh. ng alDout 190 
pounds, with blue eyes, brown, curly 
hair, which he wore long, and .a bright, 
ruddy comjuxion. He was a man of 
integrity r.nd high senso of hi.'ij'. apH 
a true gentleman o** the old scho il 
being generous, courteous and ohlis;i]i;-' 
to all with whom be came u\ contae; 
He was not ambitious far social or p..- 
litieal station, but in business he w.i 
active and persevering, and had : 
world of experience with all classes "i 
humanity. In politics he was a demn 
crat, 

CLERKED FOR DAVID COOPER. 

His first occupation was as a clerl: 
for the late David Cooper, whose stori- 
was on the west side of Woodward 
avenue, between Jefferson and Wood- 
bridge street. The connection of the 
family led him Into the business of 
trading with the red men, and in 1821. 
at 17 years of age. he went into that 
business at Chicago. Here he remained 
tor six years. In 1825. while engaged 
In this business he was commissioned 
as colonel of militia lor Michigan ter- 
ritory and aide on the staff of Gov. 



such as lack of Jurisdiction did not 
trouble statesmen in those days. 

OWNED THE KNAGGS FARM IN DE- 
TROIT. 

When his father, Whitmore Knaggs, 
died in 1827. he came back to Detroit 
and was appointed administrator of 
the estate, and subsequently owned it 
by quit-claim from his mother. In 1828 
he presented at Washington claims 
against the United States for damages 
to his father's property by the enemy 
during the war of 1812, but it was re- 
jected. On May IS. 1S2S. he married. In 
Detroit, There»e Campau. daughter ot 



i.- 






L;i.iZAi,i;:ni .\iatiud.\ knaggs. 
Widow of Charles O'Hara. daiTghter 
James W. Kraggs. feranddaug-liter 
Whilmore Knaggs. 



Bernard Campau and Veronlque 
Bondy. After settling up the estate, 
with the exception of the claim against 
the United States, he removed in 1831 
to Maumee, O. His new location was 
some 10 miles above Toledo, on the 
Maumee river, where he cultivated a 
farm given him by his father. His 
brothers. George B. Knaggs and John 
Knaggs. also cultivated farms adjoin- 
ing him on either side. He afterward 
sold his farm, as did both his brothers, 
during the land boom before the panic 
in 1S.37, and removed in 1S40 to Port 
Laurens (now Toledo), where he en- 
gaged In the real estate business until 
about 1865. In that year he removed 
to Chicago, and subsequently lived in 
Cincinnati, and continued In the same 
avocation until 1884. He then came 
back to Detroit, where he remained 
until 1893. His principal business In 
Detroit during that time was in prose- 
cuting the claim for damages, alluded 
to above, but in this he was again un- 
successful. In 1893 he removed to Cin- 
cinnati, where he lived with his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Charles O'Hara. and died 
there on May 26. 1S96, aged 93 years. 

Cass. At this time Chicago was just "l^ DESCENDANTS, 

outside of Michigan territory, but Gov. Mrs. Knaggs, who accompanied him 

Cass thought a great deal of him. and In his various removals, died In Cln- 

also of his father, and a little thing cinnati in October, 1868. They had two 



JAMBS W. KNAGGS, 
Son of Whitmore Knaggs. 



daughters, who are both living (1901). 
Elizabeth Matilda Knaggs. married 
Charles O'Hara. commission merchant, 
of Cincinnati, who died on Jan. 1, 1875. 
Mrs. O'Hara resides in Cincinnati. 
Her children are: C. J. O'Hara, secre- 
tary and treasurer of the C. C. Wor- 
mer Machinery Co., Detroit, who has 
one daughter, Jeannette Howlaud 
O'Hara: Ellzabetn W. O'Hara, wife 
of Joseph B. Moore, insurance and 
real estate. Detroit; Mary T. O'Hara, 
wife of A. Lake, Chicago, who has 
one daughter, Elizabeth Lake: Helen 
T. O'Hara, wife of S. S. Winn, at- 
torney. Kansas City. Mo.; James S. 
O'Hara. with Joseph B. Moore. De- 
troit: Stephen J. O'Hara. Cincinnati, 
and Eva O'Hara, Cincinnati. 

The second daughter of James W. 
Knaggs is Mary Octavia Knaggs. 
born Nov. 3, 1821. who married 
Gen. Stephen J. McGroarty, law- 
yer, of Cincinnati- He was United 
States collector ot internal revenue in 
the Cincinnati district at the time of 
his death on Jan. 2. 1.870. Mrs. Mc- 
Groarty resides at College Hill, a sub- 
urb of Cincinnati, wIUi her only child, 
Catherine McGroarty, wife of Robert 
Usher, spice manufacturer, Cincinnati. 
Mrs. Usher has three children- 
Stephen, James and Helen Usher. 



Mary Knngss, Coloved. 

Mary Knaggs was a slave in Whit- 
more Knaggs's household, and was 
bought by him when she was a mere 
child. She was half negro and half 
Indian. A tradition of the family is 
that when Gen. Proctor passed Ste. 
Anne's rhurch in 1&12. and spoke to 
Pr. Richard, Mary was in the road- 
way and had Whitmore Knaggs's 
youngest daughter, Elizabeth, in her 
arms. This, however, is not a fact, as 
James W. Knaggs has told that at 
that time Elizabeth was in the arms 
of her mother and both were hiding 
under a bed in the school building. 
Mary was a faithful and devoted ser- 
vant, and received her first communion 
at Ste, Anne's at the same time as 
George and John Knaggs, on July 13 
1S14. She was a nurse lor the live chil- 
dren, and was beloved by all, but had 
a stronger affection tor James W. 
Knaggs than any of the other chil- 
dren. Spencer French was also a slave 
in NVhitmore's household, and he and 
Mary were married at Ste. Anne's 
church on Feb. 16. 1S30, by Fr. Rich- 
ard. James W. Knaggs was a witness 
of the ceremony. They removed soon 
after to Chatham, Ont. After James 
W. Knaggs married at Detroit, he re- 
moved to his farm at Maumee in 1S31. 
He sent for the Frenches and their 
three children, and they came there 
and were happy. But two of the chil- 
dren died, and they then returned to 
Chatham. Then Preston French died 
soon afterward. He was a strict bap- 
tist, and his wife and children were 
devout catholics. Subsequently the 
remaining child died, and poor Mary, 
bereft ot all, returned to James's farm. 
But she could not be contented, and 
returned to Canada, where she died, 
over 100 years of age. The above story 
is told by Mrs. O'Hara, daughter of 
James W. Knaggs. 



24 



WHITMORB KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



filizabeth Knnses. 

Elizabeth Knaggs, born in 1812. 
youngest child of Wliitmore Knaggs, 
and granddaughter of George Knacrgs 
iFt. was an infant when ueiroit was 
surrendered to the British. In 1834, 
when she was 22 years of age, she mar- 
ried Charles Robert Desnoyers, son of 
Peter J. Desnoyers. in Ste. Anne's 
phurch. Detroit. She was then a 
handsome young lady, with auburn 
hair, nazel eyes and a beautiful com- 
ji'.exioa 

Gov. George B. Porter was one of 
the guests at the wedding, and he pre- 
sented the bride with an elegant pres- 
ent. She was an accomplished lady, 
having been educated at the convent 
or the Claire Sisters. She died in 1S43. 

Charles Robert Desnoyers was over 
six feet in hight, and ot slender build, 
weighing not over 170 pounds, with 
light hair and complexion. His con- 
stitution was not strong, awing to se- 
\fre ilness in youth, and he was in- 
clined to stoop, and was a well-dressed 
man. and of gentlemanly appearance; 
courteous manners and genial dis- 
position. At one time he was foreman 
of No. 1 fire engine company, whose 
house was at the northwest corner of 
Larned and Bates streets. He was a 
democrat in politics, and was alder- 
man of the old second ward in 
1845-6. one of his colleagues during 
that time being Ben Woodworth, land- 
lord of the Steamboat hotel, on the 
northwest corner of Woodbridge and 
Bates streets. In 1S3S he went into 
partnership with Shadrach Gillett in 
the commission and forwarding busi- 
ness on the dock, the name of the firm 
being Gillett and Desnoyers, and this 
connection was continued until he died 
in 1S46. 

The warehouse, the only one of the 
old-time forwarding buildings remain- 
ing in the city, still stands on Wapping 
alley, below Atwater street, and is 
about 150 feet east of Wayne street. 
The old warehouse was afterward oc- 
cupied by Ives & Blaclj, then Black & 
Young, and is now used by the Detroit 
& Cleveland Steam Navigation Co. as 
a storehouse. The property originally 
belonged to Peter J. Desnoyers, father 
ot Charles Robert, and was inherited 
by tlie latter. When the estate was 
divided it came into the possession of 
Louis P. and Francis H., sons ot 
Charles Robert, and was by them sold 
to ex-Mayor Alex. Lewis, whose hold- 
ings at that place extend to the river 
on the south and to Woodbridge street 
on the north. 

HER DESCENDANTS. 

Charles Robert Desnoyers and Eliz- 
abeth Knaggs had five children, .all 
sens, who were all born in a frame 
hcut-e on the soutli side of Fort street 



east, between the Hammond block 
and G. & R. McMillan's store. 

(1) Charles Augustine Desnoyers was 
born in Detroit in 1834. He was edu- 
cated at Notre Dame college. South 
Bend, Ind., where he remained until 
he was 21. He was a member of Eagle 
fire engine company No. 2, of the old 
fire department, and was also a mem- 
ber of the Detroit Light Guard. In 
1S55 he was a clerk in the store of John 
Webster, hardware merchant, at No. 
113 Woodward avenue. In 1857 the 
directory tells he had an office in the 
Desnover block. In 1859 he married 
Adeline Caswell, and they lived at No. 
116 Russell street for about 10 years. 
She died on Nov. 6, 1871. 

When the war of the rebellion com- 
menced in 1861, he served a three- 
months' term of enlistment under 
President Lincoln's first call for troops 
with the Light Guard, in the First 
Michigan infantry, and then returned 
with his company to Detroit. He sub- 
sequently enlisted in another regiment. 
He afterward kept a cigar and tobacco 
store in Windsor, Ont.. opposite De- 
tioit. 

In 1862 the city directory said he was 
a "Federal Coffee Manufacturer" at 
135 Woodward avenue, and lived on 
the northeast corner of Jefferson ave- 
nue and Bates street. The Desnoyer 
block, which was built by his grand- 
father in 1836. still stands on 
the northwest corner of the 
above streets. AtteT he return- 
ed from the war he took a more 
serious view of life and became a re- 
ligious devotee, being a constant wor- 
shiper at St. Anne's, and greatly inter- 
ested in church work. His mind be- 
came affected by this and other causes 
and he became an inmate of the Pon- 
tiac asylum about ]8S5, but was sub- 
sequently cured and discharged. 

He afterward lived at the Soldiers' 
home, at Grand Rapids, for several 
years. His malady recurring, he was 
taken to the Kalamazoo asylum, 
where he is at present. His ailment 
cannot be called insanity, but it un- 
fits him for the active duties of life. 
Supt, Dr. Wm. M. Edwards will short- 
ly discharge him from the institution. 
Charles Augustine Desnoyers and 
Adeline Caswell had three children, all 
sons: Charles Robert Desnoyers, S. J., 
is a lay brother of the Jesuit 
order at the St. Louis university. St. 
Louis, Mo., and is now secretary of 
the provincial general. Frank M. 
Desnoyers is unmarried and is a com- 
mercial traveler tor a Chicago firm. 
He enlisted in Co. G, First regiment of 
the Illinois national guard, and was 
present at the battle of Santiago. 
When he was honorably discharged he 
returned home and traveled for the 
firm of which his brother is a partner. 
Louis A. Desnoyers is a partner of the 



wholesale firm of J. S. Perkins & Co, 
Lake street, Chicago. He is mar- 
ried and has two ahildren, James and 
Edna. All the three sons of Charles 
Augustine were educated at Notre 
Dame college. 

(2) Pi-ancis Henry Desnoyers. born 
in Detroit in 1837, was educated at 
Notre Dame college. He learned the 
trade of machinist under Supt. New- 
hall in the Michigan Central machine 
shops, wihich were then located in the 
depot near the foot of Third street. 
He left the shop and enlisted in tlie 
Eighth Michigan cavalry in 1862. and 
served three years in the war of the 
rebellion. When he returned home he 
was jn bad health, which was caused 
by the hardships and exposures of 
army life. He then proceeded to 
Waterville. O., and purchased a quar- 
ry there, and operated it for two years. 
Through the efforts of Congressman 
John Logan Ohipman he pro- 
cured a small pension. He was 
never married. At present he liv*>s 
with relativee at Maumee and Toledo, 
and also with friends in this city, and 
occasionally sojourns with an old 
friend, named Joseph Sieliet, in Green- 
field township, this county, who 
served in his late father's house. 

f3) Louis Philip Desnoyers, born in 
Detroit in 1839, was educated at a 
catholic college in Cincinnati, where 
he remained until he was 21. He was 
a clerk under Postmaster Thorn- 
ton T. Brodhead, in 1853-7. He 
was elected collector of the old second 
ward in 1875 and held the ofHce until 
1879, when the law was changed so as 
to allow the city treasurer and re- 
ceiver ot taxes to appoint their own 
collectors. He never engaged in any 
business after that time, and, being 
a bachelor, with a small income from 
the remainder of his grandfather's es- 
tate, passed his latter days quietly. 
He was always a friend of the late 
A. T. Campau, son of Joseph Campau, 
and during the later '7lJs and early 
'80s they were inseparable comrades. 
They met every morning near Mr. 
Campau's residence on Howard 
street, and strolled leisurely through 
the business district all day, call- 
ing on old friends and occasionally 
pausing at respectable saloons for 
refreshments, until dusk, when they 
.^fr parated for their respective abodes. 
Both were quiet and genial citizens, 
incap.able of any impropriety, and 
never showing any sign of over- 
stimulation. Louis's mind finally 
gave way, and he was taken to the 
Pontiac asylum, where he died on July 
22, 1888. Hie remains were inferred 
in Mt. Elliott cemetery, Detroit. 

(4) Samuel Desnoyers, born in De- 
troit in 1841, died young. 

(5) James Alexander Desnoyers, born 
In Detroit in 1S43. died young. 



GEORGE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



George Knaggs, son of George 
Knaggs 1st and Rachel Sly, was born 
n?ar the site of Fort Miami, on the 
Maiimee river. He was probably the 
second child, and was born about 1765, 
two years after his brother Whit- 
more, but no records of his birth or 
death have been found. He was the 
first to leave his parents' home, and 
spent the greater part of his lite in 
Detroit under British rule. He must 
have been a man of brains and intlu- 
ence for some time before 1795, for in 
that year he was a magistrate, and 
was in favor with the authorities. Be- 
ing somewhat versed in law and con- 
veyancing, he settled the estate 
of George Lyons, and falling 
in love with the widow, he 
married her in 1795, before a magis- 
trate. Her name was Elizabeth Chene 
Lyons, and she was the daughter of 
Charles Chene and Mary Descomptes 
Labadie. George was a presbyterian. 

An incomplete deed in the office of 
the Wayne county register of deeds 
shows that George Knaggs sold to 
Israel Ruland by w^arranty deed, on 
July IS. 1797. "land fronting four and 
a quarter arpents on the south side 
of the River Raisin, by a depth of 
12U arpents, together with all im- 
proved and other things, for £30 New 
York currency." The description reads 
"bounded by and , ' the bound- 
ary lines biing left blank. The deed 
is witnessed by Charles Chep.e, his 
brother-in-law. 

An entry in the books of the Wayne 
county probate ofrice on July IS, 1S09, 
shows that John Askiu, a leading 
merchant, was appointed administra- 
tor of the estate of George Knaggs on 
that date. This shows that he depart 
ed this life shortly before that time. 
His wife was buried on the Church 
farm on June 2, IS13. The fact that 
her last child, Alexis, was born on the 
Raisin in 1 02, makes it probable that 
the family moved there from Detroit. 
but it is purely a conjecture without 
corroboration. Not one of his de- 
scendants have given any Information 
about him. but the records show that 
he left four children— Louis Ivn.iggs, 
Peter William Knaggs (who chang-d 
his fame to William G. Knaggs), Anne 
Knaggs and Alexis Knaggs. 



Lonis 'Whitiuore Knaf^ffs. 

Louis Whitmore Knaggs. the first 
child o-f George Knaggs and E-lizabeth 
Chene Lyons, was born in Detroit, 
Oct. 16, 1796. He married Monique 
Sequin dit Laderoute. widow of Henry 
Campau, on Julv 17 1S"24. He died be- 
fore 1833. They had three children, 
all born in Detroit. (1) Ann Knaggs. 
born on Aug. 3, 1S26: lived 15 dajs. (2) 
Louis, and (3) Joseph Knaggs, twins, 
born Jan. 1. 1829. Nothing is known 
about the after life of these twins. 



William G. KnasKii. 

William G Knaggs, born in Detroit 
on Sept. 19, 1798, was the second child 
of Gtorge Knaggs and Elizabeth Chene 
Lyons, and the grandson of George 
Knaggs Ist. He was baptized in Ste. 
Annes church as Peter Knaggs, but 
In boyhood added William to his name. 
He appeared before the Wayne pro- 
bate court in 1815. and chose a guard- 
Ian. The record in liber 1 of Wills A 
shows that on June 14, 1815, "Peter 
William Knaggs, son of George 
Knaggs, late of Detroit, deceased, a 
minor under 14, in the presence of 
Peter Chene, his uncle and godfather, 
and with his approbation, then and 
there and now chooseth John Ander- 
son, of said territory, esq., to be his 
guardian." Probate Judge George Mc- 
Dougall granted the petition. The 
manner in which some legal papers 
were drawn up in those days is well 
illustrated in this document. He was 
not "under 14," but was then over Id 
years of age, and Judge McDougall 
was Inexcusably careless in thus mis- 
taking the age of the young man. 

Peter W. was reared at Monroe In 
the family of his guardian. Col. John 
Anderson, whose wife, Elizabeth, was 
the sister of his father. Among other 
things which he learned in early man- 
hood was the art of surveying. Old 
members of the Knaggs family re- 
member him as "Billy" Knaggs, and 
say he was a general favorite. He 
subsequently changed his name to Wil- 
liam George Knaggs. The reason for 
this is not known, but it was probably 
because his cousin, Peter Whitmore 
Knaggs, had the same initials as him- 
self, and he added the George, which 
was his father's given name. 

About 1827 he married at Monroe, In 
the presbyterian church, Maria Reid 
Clark, daughter of Dr. Robert Clark 
of Monroe, and his wife Catherine 
Reid, who was a half-sister of Col. 
John Anderson. .\s remembered by his 
children he was a tall, handsome man, 
six feet in height, and weighed ISO 
rounds, with light complexion, gray 
eyes, dark hair, straight as an In- 
dian, and lithe and active as a cat. He 
was proud of his appearance, and 
very particular in his deportment, and 
was an all round man, fond of all 
kinds of sport; of moral habits, did not 
drink or gamble, and was a good con- 
versationalist. He spoke French when 
with French people, and always chose 
them as his associates. 

A few years after the marriage, 
William G. Knaggs and his family 
removed to White Pigeon. Mich., 
where he took up land two miles south 
of that place, and lived in a log 
house. Here his youngest child. Maria 
Knaggs, died, and his wife foll^^ved 
her to the grave shortly afterward. 



in 1S39. This broke up the family, and 
the other children went to live ii 
different places. He went to Canfor- 
ni.a, \N l^ere ae stayed one y;ar. an-I 
then returned east. He was engaged 
in surveying at Martlnsfleld, III., 
where he met Miss Laura Ann Let- 
ter, an estimable young lady. The ac 
quaintance ripened into love, and they 
were married. She bore him one child. 
In 1852 he was apparently in good 
health and spirits, and started for 
Cilifomia again, as -pilot for an ^'™*" 
grant party. But on the way he 
became ill, and died at Fort Laramie, 
Wyo., In the same year, aged about 
54 years. 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

Wm. G. Knaggs and his wife, Maria 
R. Clark, had four children, Charles 
Knaggs, George H. Kaafegs, Rcbtrt 
C. Knaggs, and Maria Kr.us^.s !•'• 
his second wife ''e ha J me c.*".! I i amc 1 
Willis Knaggs. 

(1) Charles Knaggs, the eldest child, 
was born at Monroe, about 1S2S. and 
died at the same place, aged l-i yi'.irs. 

(2) George H. Knaggs, the second 
child, was born at Monroe in ).S30. He 
accompanied the family to White 
Pigeon, and re naine 1 then; until his 
mother died, in 1839. His fattier ili.m 
took him to thg home of Joiin A.. 
Clark, brother of his wife, at Free- 
port, 111., where he attended school. 
When he was twelve years of age 
he went to Martlnsfleld and livol w th 
his father, who had m.irr'od -here -r 
second wife. He then was sent to 
Quincy, HI., where he attended school 
for two years. Then to Keokuk, la , 
where he commenced the battle of 
life as a freight clerk for the KeokuK 
Steamship Co., when he was 18 years 
of age. Afterward he was succ-^s- 
slvely a clerk in a store at St. Louis, 
Mo. and a clerk on a Mississipi'i 
river steamboat. In l.'„2 he tr.iveled 
across the plains to Oregon, and en- 
gaged In steamboating there until 1SS8. 
He was then elected county clerk nl 
W'asco county, Ore., and served I wo 
years, and wai. afii'wa-d ile; t. d city 
recorder and school clerk of Dalles 
City, Ore., serving eight years. At 
prtsent he is employed in the Ilnit-^I 
States customs house at Portland, 
Ore. He is now 71 years of ag^-, hale 
and hearty, and believes the world 
has treated him very well. In li52 
he married Juliet Caldwell at St. 
Francesville, Mo. She was the daugh 
ter of the lace Dr. Caldwell, of bt. 
Louis, Mo. Two children: (1) Leslie 
Knaggs, bom at Dalles City, Ore., in 
1853, died unmarried In British Co- 
lumbia in 1899, aged 36 years. (2) 
Florence Knaggs, married David 
Vance, painter and merchant, of Th^ 



26 



GEORGE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Dalles. Ore. She has two children. 
Marmaduke Vance and Naomi Vance, 
both unmarried. 

(3) Robert Clark Knaggs, third child 
of William G. Knaggs and Maria 
Relo Clark. was born In a 
lop house on Indian prairie, 
two miles south of White Pig- 
eoi.. Mich., in 1837. He knew very 
little about his father. When his 
mother died In 1839 he was 2 years 
of age, and was taken by hi.s moi'.cr'.'-- 
sister, Mrs. Ann Eliza Kellogg, at 
White Pigeon, and reared there until 
he was 15. He became a railroad m.an 
In 1852, commencing as a brakeman 
and rising to conductor on the Terre 
Haute & Alton railroad in 1S57. We.it 
to Texas and was with the Overlaai 
M-nil Co. in that state until the fall 
of 1860. Came back to Michigan ami 
enlisted In 1S61 as private in Co. D. 
7th Michigan infantry. Promoted to 
.'!ergeant-maJor, second and first lieu- 
tenant; taken prisoner on the first 
day's fight at Gettysburg in 1863, and 
confined in Libby prison until le- 
loased on March 7. 1S64. He then ri- 
turned to the army, veteranized. .vt>.«. 
brevetted captain on Msirch 13. !,?■«. 
for gallant services, and was honor 
ably discharged on Sept. 15. 18G3. He 
went to Chicago and engaged with 
Grey, Clarke & Engle.. wholesale 
leather dealers, Chicago. After cho 
big fire in 1S71. he removed to Te-rc 
Haute. Ind.. then to Chicago. St. Paul, 
Chicago again, and Sheboygan, Wis . 
and then returned to Chicago. 'jC- 
rame manager of the Libby prison 
war museum until 1S92. During the 
World'.s fair in 1893 he managed two 
hotels in Chicago. His last occupi- 
tion was with the Hartford Life In- 
surance Co.. and he i.s a special ageui 
of that romp.nny at the present tim ■ 
His home is at Evanston. 111., a sub- 
urb of Chicago. He mitrried Miss 
I-aura Stone, of Chicago, on Jan. 18. 
1871. and they had three children, as 
follows: (1) Geo. B Knaggs. born in 
Terre Haute. (2) Laura M. Knaggs, 
born in Cheboygan, unmarried; lives 
wt'h her parents. <S) Rob'n B. Knaggs. 
born in Chicago in 1SS6; lives with hH 
parents. 

(4) Maria Knaggs. the fourth child 
of Wililam. G. Knaggs. was born about 
!<!.<•■- at White Pigeon. Mich., and died 
the same year. 

(5) Willis Knaggs. son of his second 
wife, Laura Ann TjCtter. died unmar- 
ried during the war of the rebellion, 
aged about 22 years. 



River Raisin (Monroe). in 1802 
His first avocation was that of 
an Indian trader, and he worked 
as a clerk for one of his un- 
cles. In Detroit he beca-me acquainted 
with Archange Morin. daughter of Isi- 
dore Morin and .\rchange Meloche, 
who lived on what is now known as 
the Church farm. Morin was a tanner, 




Anne lCnnf<^n. 

Anne Knaggs, third child of George 
Kn.iggs. and Elizabeth Chene Lyons, 
wa.? born at Detroit In 1800; married 
I-ouis Campau in 1818. in St. Anne's 
church. Louis was a son of Louis 
Campau and Therese Moran. Anne 
died on April 10. 1824, aged about 24 
years. No children. Her husband mar- 
ried Sophie Marsac. 16 months after 
her death on Aug, 9, 1825. 



Alexin Knaerss* 

Alexis Knaggs. who was the young- 
est child of George Knaggs, and Eliza- 
beth Chene Lyons, and grandson of 
George Knaggs, 1st, was born at 



AUCH.-VN'GE ELLEN KNAGGS, 

Wife of Henry Bertiielet, daughter of 

.\l.ixis Knaggs. grandaughter of George 

Knasgs, great-granddaughter of George 

Knaggs 1st. 

and his residence and tannery was on 
land which fronted on the Detroit 
river, a short distance above Hel- 
ler's hotel, on Jefferson avenue, where 
the shops of the Detroit Yacht & 
Power Co,'s works are now situated. 
Alexis married Archange Morin in Ste 
Anne's church, in 1825, and their first 
.children were twins, who were born on 
Sept. 6. 18'25. at the Morin dwelling on 
the river. 

When very young the twins were left 
in the care of Elizabeth Lyon.?, daugh- 
ter of George Lyons, an Englishman, 
and a merchant in Detroit, and Eliza- 
beth Chene The latter, after the 
death of George Lyon, married George 
Knaggs. 

Elizabeth Lyons was a maiden lady 
of a serious turn of mind, who took 
great interest in church work and edu- 
cation She taught in the Ste. Anne 
church school, on the River road, near 
the foot of Eighteenth street. Detroit, 
and was there at the time of the sur- 
render of Detroit in 1812. She sub- 
scribed more than she could afford for 
the erection of Ste. Anne's church at 
the corner of Bates and Larned streets 
and even scaled fish at the river fisher- 
ies, to earn more money for that pur- 
pose. Being a half-sister of Alexis 
Knaggs. she adopted his twin children, 
Elizabeth and Archange Knaggs. and 
they lived with her until they were 
grown up. Elizabeth Lyons, with Miss 
Elizabeth Wiliams. sister of John R. 
Wiliams. and Miss Monique Labadie, 
who afterward married Antolne Beau- 
bien. conducted a school which stood 
on the east side of Randolph street, 
between Larned and Congress streets, 
where Chope's carriage factory and a 



laundry are now situated. She lived 
with her twin nieces in the same build- 
ing. 

She afterward removed to a house 
on the south side of Jefferson avenue, 
where the Biddle house now stands, 
the second house east of Randolph 
street, and here her niece, Ar- 
change, was married to Henry Berthe- 
let, in 1844. Miss Lyons afterward 
went to live with Mrs. Antoine Beau- 
hien, whose house stood on Jefferson 
avenue, where the Sacred Heart con- 
vent now st;inds. and there her neice. 
Elizabeth Knaggs. was married in 1850 
to Charles J. Trombly, the nephew of 
Antolne Beaubien and the business 
manager of his estate. 

Alexis Knaggs settled on a farm in 
I'^ie township. Monroe county, and 
ilso owned a 120-acre farm in 
Uedford township, W^ayne county. Lit- 
tle is remembered of his personal- 
ity. Peter Trabblc, Erie township, 
.in octogenarian, who is his son-in- 
l.TW, says that during the flush times 
that preceded the panic of 1.837, Alexis 
purchased an island, which is still 
called Knaggs's island, in Erie town- 
ship, on the shore of Lake Erie, and 
afterward sold it for a profit of some 
$5,000. The island contains about 70 
acres of gdcd land. Alexis Knaggs 
died in 1855. on his farm in Erie town- 
ship. He and Archange Morin had 11 
children, as follows: 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Elizabeth Knaggs, born on 
Sept. 6, 1825, married Charles 
J Trombly, May 13, 1850. and died 



ELIZABETH A. KNAGGS, 

Wife of C. J. Trombly, daughter of .\lexi3 

Knaggs. granddaughter of George Knaggs. 

great-granddaughter of George Knagga 

1st. 

Feb. 27, 1901. Seven children— 11) 
Charles Knaggs Trombly, ex-receiver 
of taxes, Detroit, married Mary 
Wren. Three children, Charles J. 
Trombly. A.dele Trombly and Maxim 
I'rombly. of whom only Charles J. 
survives. (2) Eliza Antoinette Trom- 
bly, married Peter Chene. Detroit. 
Three children, Charles Chene. Ella 
Ciieno and Clyde Chene. The last 
named died in Infancy. (31 Maxim 
Alexander Trombly, photographer, De- 
troit, married Delia M. Todd, of De- 
troit. Five children— Marie Trombly, 



GEORGE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



27 



Harry Trombly, Florence Triimbly. died and she married Flaget Rousseau, 

Aldine Trombly and Pearl Trombly. one child, Loretta Rousseau. Clyde 

The last named died in infancy. (4) Knaggs, the second child by the second 

May Helena Trombly. died July 10, marriage, is a school boy at Whiteford 

ISta, aged eight months. (5) Theodore Center. 



Sylvester Trombly, (B) Albert Trombly 
and <7) Ella Archange Trombly, live 



(4) Isadore Knaggs, farmer. Brie 
township, was bom on Feb. 15. 1829, 



with their father. All Elizabeth and died on June 27, 1S87. in his 



Knaggs Trombly's childrtn live in De- 
troit, snd her husband still survives. 



59th year. He married Angeline 
Cousino on Nov. 2S. 1S51, and to them 



(2) Archange Knaggs. twin sister of were born 13 childrer of v.hom n,ne 

survive, as follows: (1) Robert Knaggs. 
died in infancy. (2) Sarah Knaggs, 
married Moses Lavoy, farmer, Bed- 
ford township, Monroe county; 10 chil- 
dren—Guy Lavoy. Louis Lavoy, George 
Lavoy, Adeline L.avoy. Charles Lavoy, 
Harry Lavoy. Gertrude Lavoy Julia 
Lavoy, Eurdie Lavoy; lae first five 
died of diphtheria in 1S92. (,3) Alexis B. 
i-Tnaggs. Toledo, married .ce Reau; 
live children— Joseph Knaggs, Ida 
ICnaggs. Leo Knaggs, Samuel Knaggs, 
uiil Victor Ki.aggs. (1) Maxim 
Knaggs, teamster. Erie township. 
-Vio.iroe county, married Millie Suliei ; 
iglit chiMren. of whom five died in 
nfancy, and the survixr.rs r^re Louis 
Knr.ggs, Jiayniond i^naggs and Lucy 
Knaggs. (5) Victor Knaggs. section 
man on Ann Arbor raiiror-.J, unmar- 
ried. (6) Dennis Knaggs, farmer, Erie 
township, mavrie.l Josepliiue Po^r^ ; 
.5ix children— Isadore Knaggs, Mabel 
Knaggs. Lottie Knaggs, Walter 
Kn.Tggs, Clarie Knaggs, Mercedes 
iCnasgs. u- Ellon Knagjis marne,! 
^ Benjamin Robideau, farmer, Erie 

CH..VRLES KNAGGS TROMBLY. township; nine chilJren-Lettie Robi- 

u:x-«.co!v.r,tlaxes. .onofMr.. KHz.L..h '"p^^". I'"'^ ,^°^"^.'^^"• '"^,'!°''.^ 5°^'" 
A. Knaggs Trombly. grandson o( Aloxij ucau, Blanche Rocideau. LLsie Robi- 
Knass^. g!c-at-gianuson of Ge'j. Knaggs. deau, Annetta Robideau, Eva Robi- 
gitai-groat-gramlfon of Geo. Knagg.s lot. ^^^.^^.^ Bernard Robideau, Linus 

Robideau. The third child, Isadore, 
Elizabeth, married Henry Berthelet, ^^^^^ ,,, infantv. (S) Millie Knaggs 
grandson of Peter Berthelet, who built ^,,^^^ [„ infancv. (;)) Annie Knagg.s 
a market at the southwest corner of carried William Sussior, workman in 
Atwater and -;ant.o.ph streets. Detroit. , ,[ ,j,i,n^ry at Kast To.edo. WJ) Joseph 
in 1S2S. They both reside in Detroit, i^naggs died in infancy. (11> Lorenzo 
Their only child. Charles A. Berthelet, i^-nj^jjgs, teamster, Erie township, 

married Lillian Angel; five children- 
Irene Knaggs, Earl Knaggs, Harel 
Knaggs, Flossy Knaggs and Louisa 




her son Abraham, and her daughters 
Mary and Elizabeth. 

Ill) Richard Knaggs, farmer. Erie 
township, married Julia Porr}-. and 
had 10 children, of whom eight sur- 
vlce. (1) Christopher J. Knaggs. 
Michigan Central railroad engineer-. 
Detroit, married Cordelia Lemary, 12 
children, of whom 11 survive — Eliza- 
beth Knaggs, Leo. Knaggs, Cornelius 
Knaggs, Loretta Knaggs, Clayto.i 
ICnaggs, Beulah Knaggs, Aloysius 
ICnaggs, Rowland Knaggs, Gilbei t 
ICnaggs, Elwood Knaggs and Durwai 1 
Knaggs. The third child, Cornelius 
Knaggs, graduated on June 21, 1901, 
at St. Joseph's Commercial coliesc 
and has since joined the Order of 
Christian Brothers. He is now at 
Amawalli, N. Y. The other lu chil- 
dren live with their parents, 
i^yde Knaggs died in 1S90, in his third 
year. (2) Agnes Knaggs married 
tieorge Archer, Battle Creek, one 



died in Milwaukee In 189S, aged 51 
)'-n.s, and was buried in Mt. Elliott 
cemetery in Detroit. 



^J) Timothy Knaggs, farmer, Erie Knaggs. (12) Riggie Knaggs died, aged 



township, Monroe county, married 
Jeannette Rau, and had eight chil- 



2 years. (13) Julia Knaggs, unmar- 
ried. Mrs. Isadore Knaggs still sur- 



dren, as follows: Elizabeth Knaggs, vivcs and lives in her quiet little home 
married Eli Jacobs, farmer. Erie town- on state Ime, with her son Victor and 
ship, eight children; a twin sister of daughter Julia. 



Jeannette died In infancy; Esther 
Knaggs, married David Grodi, black- 



(5) Peter Knaggs, farmer, Erie town- 
sliip, was born at>out 1831, and died of 



smith, Whiteford township, Monroe dyspepsia, Sept. 7, 19uO, in his sixty- 
county, eight children; Archange ninth year. He married Mary Laba- 
Knaggs, married Peter Peet, farmer, die in 1864. Nine children, of whom 
Erie township, no children; Louis eight survive as follows: (1) Noah 
Knaggs. laundry proprietor, Cleveland, Knaggs, corn and hay buyer for the 



O.. married Stella Cousino, one child; L. S. Dillenl>ack Co 
Alexander Knaggs, machinist, West county, unmarried 
Toledo, married Celia Montri. nine 



Erie, Monroe 

(2) Abraham 

Knaggs, blacksmith, Erie, unmarried. 



children; Alice Knaggs, married Peter (3) Annie Knaggs, died, aged 2 years. 
Nelson, painter, Ironville, O.. two chil- 
dren; John Knaggs. section boss, To- 
ledo & Monroe railway, married Ella Knaggs, farmer, Erie township, mar- 
ried Maggie Laurence; two children — 
Frank Knaggs and Linus Knaggs. (6) 



(4) Salestine Knaggs, works in Erie, 
unmarried. (5) Ezbedia (Zebediah?) 



Weissinger, three children; Adeline 
Knaggs. married Frank Ferry, farmer, 
Erie township, six children; Annie John Ivnaggs, farmer, Erie, unmar- 
Knaggs, married Rossie Cousino. clerk, ried. (7) Pauline Knaggs married Hen- 
Toledo. Mrs. Jeannette Rau Knaggs ry Lapointe; three children— Birdene 
died in 1873. Timothy Knaggs mar- Lapointe and Earl Lapointe. Ben died, 
ried a second wife, Virginia Dusault, aged two years. The family now lives 
and had two more children. Addle in Toledo. (8) Mary Knaggs. unmar- 
Knaggs, who married Samuel Crum- ried. (9) Elizabeth Knaggs, unmar- 
mlt. farmer. Whiteford township, one ried. Mrs. Peter Knaggs still survives, 
child. Pearl Cummit, Her husband and resides in her home in Erie with 







ELIZABETK K-NAGGi. 
Daugl:ler of Christopher J. Knaggs. grand- 
daufcluer of Richard Knaggs. great-grand- 
daughter of Alexis Knaggs. great-great- 
granddaughter of George Knaggs, great- 
grea:-great-granddaughter of George 
Knatgs 1st. iThe picture shows Mls.s 
Knaggs as she appeared at an entertain- 
ment as the "Gipsy Queen.") 

child— a boy. Both her husband anJ 
child died, and her present residence 
is unknov/n. (3) Lambert Knaggs, 
Wabash railroad engineer, marrie.l 
Christina Dickson. One child, Lambert 
Knaggs. (4) James Knaggs, tarnur, 
Bedford township, Monroe county, 
married Carrie Currn. No children. 
(5) Adolph Knaggs, farmer, Bedford 
township, unmarried. (6) Charies 
Knaggs, farmer, LaBaiie township, 
married twice. His first wife was 
Ellen Leonard. Two children— William 
Knaggs and Marie Knaggs. His second 
\-.ife was Mary Londrow, No childten 
17) Madore Knaggs, married Bazil:; 
'.'ousino, farmer, Deerfleld, Mich. 
Four children— Ruth Cousino, Ger- 
trude Cousino, Delia Cousino, and 
Lynn Cousino. (8) Addle Knaggs, mar- 
ried Hector De Grasse, Toledo, O. 
Two children— Harry De Grasse and 
Clara De Grasse. 

(7) Caroline Knaggs married Peter 
Trabbio, farmer, Erie township, on 
Sept. 27. 1845, and died on Oct. 22, 1880. 
Peter Tarabbic is a native of Italy, 
and is one of the most prominent 



28 



GEORGE KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



farmers in Monroe county. He Is the 
owner or over 700 acres o£ Michigan's 
be.st soil, ali located in Erie and Bed- 
foid townships, in that county. To the 
above union 11 children were born as 
loilows: (1) Samuel Trabbic. farmer, 
Bedford township, married Sarah Mor- 
in. Five children— Dooley Trabbic, 
Carrie Trabbic, Obed Trabbic, Guy 
Trabbic and Millie Trabbic. (2) Eliza- 
beth Traibbic married James Morin, 
farmer. Erie township. Twelve chil- 
dren—Tobias Morin, Sarah Morin. Ar- 
tliur Morin, Blendena Morin, Lot 
Morin, Bernardetta Morin, Leo Morin, 
Mabel Morin, Joan Morin, Adelmer 
Morin and one child who died in in- 
fancy. Tobias, the eldest son, is a 
graduate of the University of Ottawa, 
Canada, of the class of 1901. Both he 
and his brother Arthur, the third child, 
are studying for the priesthooi at 
Montreal, Que. (3) William Trabbic, 
farmer, Erie township, married Susan 
RobiUeau. Six ehidren— Gertie Trab- 
bic, Guy Trabbic, Edith Trabbic, Ruby 
Trabbic, May Tiabbie and Winnifred 
Trabbic. William Trabbic died on 
March 4, 1S>S8. (4) John B. Trabbic, 
farmer, Erie township, married Lulu 
Moross. Eive children— Dean Trabbic, 
Mabel Trabbic. Grace Trabbic. James 
Trabbic and Hazel Trabbic. (5) Ma- 
tilda Trabbic married Jerome Cousino, 
uunie;. i;-.r;-.ir/ !.o>\ n-hii,. T.\iiv-e chil- 
dren — Kliza E. Cousino, isadore U. 
Cousino, Joseph G. Cousino, Mary S. 
I 'ousino, Linus P. Cousino, Clara M. 
Cousino, Arthur I. Cousino, El- 
man L. Cousino, Valerie V. 
Cousino. Pascal T. Cousino, Tres- 
ley E. Cousino. and Leo O. Cousino. 
(0; Agne3 Trabbic married Samuel 
Carron, farmer, Erie township. Seven 
chlKlren— Clelus Carron. Linos Carron, 
Loretta Carron, Clifford Carron. El- 
wood Carron, and Walter Carron. 
Linos was a twin brother of Clelus 
and died, aged eight months. (7) Vic- 
tor M. Trabbic, farmer. Erie township, 
married Adeline Lapointe. six chil- 
dren— Ralston Trabbic, Pearl Trabbic, 
M.i.-ie Trabbic. Ashton Trabbic. Ilene 
Trabbic and Orlando Trabbic. Ralston 
died, aged 2 years. (S) James Trabbic 
died at St. Vincent hospital at To- 
ledo, O.. aged 7 years. (9) Flaget Hen- 
ry Trabbic, farmer. Erie township. Is 
a prominent politiciuii, and was chair- 
man of the Monru'h county board of 
.<iUpervisors at the age of 29. He mar- 
ried Martha A. Lehr. One child- 
Gladys Trabbic. (10) Albert Trabbic 
died in infancy. (11) Israel Joseph 
Trabbic. farmer, Erie township, mar- 
ried Josie Reau. Three children— Alta 
Trabbic, Ruth Trabbic and Ollie Trab- 
bic. All Peter Trabbic's children are 
farmers and reside in Monroe county. 
Four of the above-mentioned grand- 



children of Caroline Knaggs Trabbic, 
namely: Millie, daughter of Samuel 
Trabbic; Pearl, daughter of Victor M. 
Trabbic, and Grace and Hazel, daugh- 
ters of John B. TrabWc, are pupils at 
St. Mary's academy, Monroe, Mich. 

(S) Mary Knaggs married Gilbert 
Cousino, farmer, Bedford township. 
Nine children: (1) Alexis Cousino, 
farmer, Bedford township, married 
Ann Deshetler, four children. (2) 
Elizabeth Cousino, married Daniel La- 
pointe, seven children. (3) Jerome 
Cousino, farmer, Bedford township, 
unmarried. (4) Annie Cousino, mar- 
ritd Jolm Lapointe, farmer, Bedford 
townsiiip, five children. (5) Richard 
Cousino, died unmarried in 1*90, aged 
uU years. (6) Thomas Cousino, acci- 
dentally drowned at Toledo, in June, 
190(J, unmarried. (7) Flaget Cousino, 
farmer, Jackson ciounty, Michigan, 
married and has one child, a girl. (S) 
Adolph Cousino, farmer, Bedford 
township, unmarried. (9) Rose Cous- 
ino, unmarried. 

(9) Zoe Knaggs married Isaac Be- 
nore, farmer, Bedford township. Five 
children: (1) Alexis Benore, farmer, 
near St., Louis, Mo., married; number 
of children unknown. (2) Lucy Be- 
nore, married Gilbert Lewis, farmer. 
North Dakota, seven children. (3) 
Estelie Benore, died unmarried, of 
typhoid fever, in 1S95. (4) Peter 
Benore, killed by a runaway accident 
about 1S&2; unmarried. (5) Henry 
Benore, died young. Isaac Benore 
died in 1S97, and liis wife afterward 
married Isaac Londreau, teamster, 
Pamper\-ille, near Toledo. Two chil- 
dren: (6) Isaac Londreau, married 
Mary Deschetler, and died in 1S99; no 
children. (7) Clarissa Laundreau, mar- 
ried Al. Orcutt, hoielkeeper, Toledo; 
no children. 

(10) Eliza Knaggs married Benjamin 
Sulier. farmer, Bedford township, in 
1846. She died on April 19. 1S72. Eight 
children One child had died before 
that time, and within 14 months a little 
boy and a girl 15 years old followed 
their mother to the grave. In June, 
1874. the father also died. The five sur- 
viving children are Archange Sulier, 
Pau'.ine Sulier, Emma Sulier. David 
Sulier and Benjamin Sulier. When 
Benjamin Suiier, Sr., was on his death- 
bed he requested his parents to take 
care of his children, and they granted 
his wish, and reared them until they 
reached maturity. (1) Archange Sulier. 
the oldest, married David Anteou. of 
Toledo, eight children, all of whom 
died but two. James Anteou and Thos. 
Anteou. (2) Pauline Sulier married 
Dennis Duval, farmer, Erie township, 
who afterward became a locomotive 
engineer, and went to New Mexico, 



but returned, and is now a farmer at 
Deerfleld. Six children: Effie Duval 
and Elnora Duval died in infancy; 
Heuston Duval. Leroy Duval, May Du- 
val and Ethel Duval. (3) Emma Su- 
lier married Jas. Cartwright. barber, 
Toledo. O. Her husband died, leaving 
one child. Bertha Cartwright. who also 
died when she was 14 years old. on 
April 23, 1900. The widow lives in To- 
ledo, O. (4) David Sulier, engineer 
on the Santa Fe railroad. New Mexico, 
married Libby Duval, sister of Dennis 
Duval. Five children: Leo Sulier, 
Lucius Sulier, who died aged 13 
months; Loiesious Sulier, Carnot Su- 
lier and David Sulier. (5) Benjamin 
Suiier. engineer on the Santa Fe rail- 
road. New Mexico, married Sadie 
Cook; three children, one of whom 
died. 

CD Kancy Knagg.^ w.a.- lorn .'it 
Erie. Monroe county, in 1S33, and in 
1S50. at the age of 17, marri^^d John 
Desheter. of the same place. She was 
married but a tew months when her 
hu.sband ditd. No children came from 
their union. She then married Alexis 
Duquett, carpenter and cabinetmaker, 
who belonged to one of the best-known 
French families of Wood county. Ohio. 
They removed to Mud Creek, O.. near 
Fremont, where they lived for many 
.\'ears. Her husband s.^rved as a pri- 
vate in the civil war, and was honor- 
ably discharged at its close. Seven 
children— (1) Alexis Duo.uett, Jr., died 
when he was 4 years of age. (2) Rich- 
ard Duquett, a successful farmer, 
Eov.'ling Green, O., married Lydla Ann 
Leaver, of German descent, of Wood 
county, O.— Nine children— William 
Duquett, Daniel Duquett, James Du- 
quett, Delia Duquett. Celesta Duquett, 
Floyd Duquett, Noah Duquett, Clara 
Duquett and Minnie Duquett. The two 
latter are now being educated at St. 
Mary's academy, in Monroe, Mich. 
(3) Ellen Duquett married Alcinus 
Mercer, a wealthy farmer and oil spec- 
ulator, of Digby, Wood county, O. 
Four children— Rose May Mercer, who 
married Harry Garber and had two 
children: Libbie Mercer, Norma Mer- 
cer and Lloyd Mercer. (4) Werhe Du- 
quett. died of sunstroke, aged 6 years. 
(5) Maxim A. Duquett, portrait and 
animal painter, Monroe, Mich., married 
Clara B. Rousselo, of French descent, 
at Monroe. Three children— Fern Du- 
quett, Nonia Duquett and W.aldon Max 
Duquett. (6) William Duquett. builder 
and contractor, Deshler. Wood county, 
Ohio., married Libbie Adele King. 
Seven children— Lulu Pearl Duquett. 
Ivro Dezvan Duquett. Clara Ethel 
Ququett, .^Iva J. Duquett, Bertha 
Ellen Duquett, Ralph N. Duquett and 
Laura May Duquett. (7) Elizabeth 
Duquett, died In infancy. 



ELIZABETH KNAGliS AND HER DESCHNDANTS. 



Elizabeth Knaggs, daughter of 
George Knaggs 1st and Rachel Sly, 
■li-s i.orn at Miami on Jan. 4. 
1772. and was baptised at I'Assumptlon 
■li'.ir.h (Huron mission) in Sandwich, 
opposite Detroit, on the 24th of the 
same month. The places of her birth 
i?v' birjti.-ni were in British territory, 
until 1796. as was also the place on the 
Maumee river, where her parents lived 
tor many years. She was married at 
Miami to John Anderson, of Scotland. 

She is remembered as being a tall. 
handsome woman when in her prime, 
with a fair complexion, and dark au- 
burn hair. The color of her hair was 
hardly changed by advanced age. and 
when she died was only slightly mix- 
ed with silver. 

John Anderson, her husband, who 
afterward became a prominent citizen 
of Monroe and Michigan, v.as born l:i 
a village near Glasgov.-, Scotland, on 
August 20, 1771, and while a young boy 
came with his parents to America, set- 
tling first in Montreal. About 1800 he 
came to Maumee to trade with the In- 
dians, and was successful in business. 
Their first child was born at the toot 
of the Maumee rapids. In 1802. 

About 1807 the family removed to 
Frenchtown, now Monroe, on the river 
P.aisin. and John Anderson was en- 
gaged in business there except during 
two years of the war of 1812-5, until 
the day of his death In 1840. 

In 1807 he applied to the supreme 
court of the territory to be made a 
citizen of the United States, and was 
admitted to citizenship on Sept. 26. 

Col. Anderson was about six feet In 
height, with a strong muscular frame, 
and weighed about 200 pounds. He had 
a very slight Scottish accent, and was 
at medium complexion, clean shaven, 
well dressed, frank and outspoken In 
conversation, was a very pleasant 
man, courteous, obliging and public- 
spirited character, and a stout whig. 
He took considerable interest in mili- 
tary affairs, and In 1805 he was ap- 
pointed by Governor Hull as colonel 
of the Second regiment of territorial 
militia, several companies of which 
were raised at Monroe and the sur- 
rounding country. One of the lieuten- 
ants In his regiment was Thomsis 
Knaggs, and one of the ensigns was 
James Knaggs. In the First regiment, 
raised principally at Detroit and the 
territory north of that place, Whlt- 
more Knaggs was one of the lieuten- 
ants. All these three were the broth- 
ers of his wife. He was United States 
marshal of the territory of Michigan 
in 1811 and 1812. 

After the surrender of Detroit on 
Aug. 16, 1812, the prominence of Col. 
Anderson marked him for vengeance. 
The British Indians, of whom Tecum- 



seh was the leader, sought to secure 
the reward offered for his apprehen- 
sion, and he was finally captured, but 
escaped and made his way to Dayton, 
O.. where he engaged in business. 
There he learned next year that his 
wife and three children had beeiT 
butchered at the time of the raassa- 



"I won't," said the plucky lady. 

"If you don't get up I kill you." said 
the Indian. 

"He then put his hand on her head, 
and drew a circular line around it, to 
show where he would scalp her, and 
flourished his tomahawk with deadly 
significance. But the Knaggs blood 




Wife of Col. Joiin Anderson. 



ELIZABliTii KXAGGS. 

and third child of George Knaggs l.'^t. and Rachel Sly. 



ere of the Kentucky troops at the Rai- 
sin. 

-\ BUAVE WOMAN. 

Meanwhile his family, at Monroe, 
irent through some harrowing experi- 
ences. At the massacre of the Kaisin 
on January 22. 1S13, his wife and chil- 
dren were In their own house. Mrs. 
Anderson sat on a cheat, which con- 
tained some ?S00 or $900 in gold and 
silver, and this she determined to de- 
fend, and not even the presence of the 
bloodthirsty red men woula induce her 
to seek safety in flight. Her son, 
Alexander Duncan Anderson, then 
about three years of age. sat in her 
lap. Several Indians came into the 
store, and one upraised his tomahawk 
and bade her rise. 



showed itself In Mrs, Anderson. 

"If you are a brave Indian, you can 
tomahawk me now," she said, sarcas- 
tically and defiantly, opening her dress 
in front to receive the threatened 
l.Iow. 

The red man appreciates and admires 
courage even in his bitterest enemy, 
and the defiance of the white woman 
filled thie savage with admiration. He 
put up his tomahawk, caught her by 
tie hand, and said: 

"You brave squaw; me not kill you." 

The Indians left the house, and as 
speedily as possible she procured a 
horse and traineau, or sleigh, and 
loaded the money and other valuables 
on it, and on her person. Then, ac- 
companied by her three little children 



30 



ELIZABETH KXAGGS AXD HER DESCENDANTS. 



— two sons and a daughter- 'sho drove 
to Delroit. Here she "^iited a house, 
kept boarders fcr a time, and sup- 
ported her family. Only military cor- 
respondence was allowed to pafs the 
lines in Detroit, and she did not learn 
of her husband's whereabouts for 
some linje. but when she did she pro- 
ceeded with her children to Dayton, 
where he welcomed her as one from 
the dead. 

Her experience in leaving Monroe 
2r4 going to Detroit was similar to 
that 6f her mother. Elizabeth, how- 
tver. left of her own will, while her 



Louies wore removed to Detroit, 
where they were reburied in the sol- 
diers" cemetery, part of which is new 
covered by the Moffat building on 
Griswold street. In November. 1S47, 
these remains were taken to Ken- 
tucky and again buried by the govern- 
ment of that state, with appropriate 
ceremonies 

Col. Anderson got into trouble at 
■Washington in ISIS. The first mention 
of the case appears in the Xational 
Intelligencer in February of that year. 
He wrote to Lewis WilHanis. a con- 
gressman for Xorth Carolina, that he 




El.iZ.\BBrH KX»GGS .VXDERSOX DEFYING TBE ECDI.XXS. 



mother was ordered away by Gen. 
Procter. 

A NATTRAl. LIXGUIST. 
When the war ended Ander- 
sen and his family returned to Mon- 
roe. He found his property destroyed 
and hife store burned to the ground, 
and he had to commence life again. 
He had numerous friends, and being 
of an energetic nature, ne was soon 
on his feet again. He was a natural 
linguist and able to converse in no 
less tban 11 Indian dialects, and fa- 
niiliar wiith the habits and ways of 
the aborigines. He was Quite popular 
also witb them, and obtained a large 
share of their trade, which was quite 
profitable. They came to him for coun- 
sel and advice in their dealings with 
tie government, and he protected 
their Interests by his influence. He 
also went to Washington at his own 
expense and enlisted government aid 
for orphans and others whose prop- 
erty had been destroyed by the war. 
A few years after 1SI5, he received a 
request from Detroit to further the 
work of disinterring the remains of 
the Kentucky soldiers who had been 
massacred at the battle of the Raisin. 
He took charge of the affair and the 



had claims against the United States 
for damages done to property at the 
River Raisin by the British and In- 
dians in the war of 1S12-15. and that 
if he ("Williams) would push the claim 
he woulu give him SSOO. Williams laid 
the letter before the house of repre- 
sentatives, Anderson was then ar- 
rested and was confined for several 
days. He prepared a well-written de- 
fense, relating the horrible massacre 
at Frenchtown. the distress and pover- 
ty of the citizens, and the fact that 
he represented them in his application 
for relief. In the newspaper account 
the character of the man, his withered 
cheeks, gray hair and his record as a 
soldier in defense of his adopted coun- 
try, were referred to. The house saw 
that it was not a case of bribery, but 
simply ignorance of the law. that actu- 
ated the colonel, so he was only rep- 
rimaudeu and discharged. 

The latter portion of Col. Ander- 
son's life was peaceful and prosperous. 
Held in high esteem by his fellow 
citizens, he was chosen to fill several 
offices of honor and trust, which he 
administered with capabiUty and in- 
tegrity. He was one of the share- 
holders of the Bank of Michigan in 



ISIS, and ISl was appointed by Gov. 
Cass one of the 35 trustees of the 
Cniversity of Michigan, then located 
ia Detroit. He Eer\-ed several years 
on the bench of Monroe, and was chief 
jusiioe of that county, in 1S27. 

On June 11, ISW. a great whig mass 
meeting was held at Gen. WiUiam 
Henry Harrison's old battleground at 
Fort Meigs. The general himself, 
tben a candidate for the presidency, 
was present. The attendance was very 
large, and embraced whigs from near- 
ly every state in the union. Five 
steamboats, with 2,000 persons on 
board, left Detroit on the previous 
day, and these were in attendance, and 
the crowd to hear the speeches num- 
bered fully ao.eoil. Of course. Gen. An- 
derson was present, and the exposure, 
notwithstanding the mildness of the 
weather, shortened his life. He con- 
tracted a severe cold, and this ended 
l:i his death, on July 3, l&W. 

HER DESCEXD.\XTS. 

Col. John Anderson and Elisabeth 

vnaggs had three children. John 

'I'.a^hington Anderson. Alexander 

Duncan Anderson and Eliza Anderson. 



John %\"asliin:^on Anderson. 

John V\'aslungton Anderson was bom 
St the Maamee Rapids on May 3. ISiie, 
:'-nd was 3 years of age when the family 
moved to Frenchtown. now Monroe. 
When he grew up he went into 'Dusi- 
!:ess wth his fatiier in Monroe. In ISS 
';;e was married to Jane Stewart 
"lark at Monroe on June 15. 1S2S. 
iy Jabez Chickermg, a justice 

f the peace, there being no protestant 
clergjTnan nearer than Detroit at that 
ume. His wife, who is still Uvlng 
(.Jan, 1952), in her 91st year, at her 
residence in Monroe, is the daughter of 
the late Dr. Robert Clark and his wife, 
Catherine Reid. of Monroe, "Kie latter 
was a half sister of Col. John Ander- 
son. Mj^ Jane Stewart Clark Ander- 
son was born at Stamford, Delaware 
county. X. T., and was then a beauti- 
ful young lady of 15 years of age. with 
a rosy complexion, black hair and 
bright black eyes. She was popular in 
society, beii® amiable, cheerful and 
\-lvacious, wth marked decision of 
character, and had the rare merit of 
making and keeping firm friends. Both 
husband and wife were true chris- 
tians and members of the presbyterian 
church. 

In 1S37 the family moved to 'White 
Pigeon. Mich., where he took up land 
and cultivated a farm, and was the 
first county clerk of St. Josepn county. 
He was in a fair way of becoming a 
prosperous man, but was persuaded 
by his parents to return to Monroe. In 
the latter place he followed several 
vocations of a clerical character and 
also followed the mercantile business, 
by which he accumulated a modest 
competence. But in an unlu<Ay hour 
he signed a note for a friend and be- 
came his surely. The friend failed to 
pay: in paying the surety he lost 
his all. This so depressed him in mind 
and spirits that he never succeeded In 
regaining the lost groim<L His last 
situation was as confidential clerk for 
Wm. H. Boyd, who was proprietor of 
a large hardware store in Monroe, and 



ELIZABETH KNAGGS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 



31 



while serving him 'he died in 1855. In' 
speaking of hliti arter his death Mr. 
Boyd said he was a true and faithful 
man, who, he thought, had not an 
enemy in the world. 

John Washington Anderson was of 
medium hight and slight build, with 
blue eyes and curly auburn hair, fair 
complexion, and very fine teeth, and 
was genial, sympathetic and obliging, 
fond of company and of hunting and 
aquatic sports: spoke French fluently 
and could converse in Indian dialects. 
All the French people of Monroe 
thought no one was so fine as "M'.>-ieur 
.Tohnny," as they called him. He was 
kind and generous to the poor and un- 
fortunate, and there are some living 
today who owe to "him all that they 
• ire and have. He was a man of integ- 
rity and was also a mechanical genius. 

He left eight children as follows: 
HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Edwin Ruthven Anderson, the 
oldest cliild of John Washington An- 
derson, was born at Monroe on 
April 12, 1S27. He learned the 
moldcrs' trade in Monroe and 
Detroit. He married Isabel Cas- 
well in- Detroit, but left her there 
to work at his trade in Mexico, where 
he died. They had one child. Fred- 
erick Anderson, but it is not known 
where his wife or child are at pres- 
ent or whether they are living. 

(i) Catherine Elizabeth Anderson was 
born at White Pigeon Mich., in 1830. 
She n-.arried Thoii.as A. Ssyre, mer- 
chant, of South Lyon, Mich. No chil- 
dren. She Uves w'ith her husband at 
South Lyon. 

(31 Leslie Telfair Anderson was born 
at White Pigeon. Mich., on July 2G, 
1E32. He v/as for a long time a railroad 
express messenger. He never married, 
and now lives with his mother at Mon« 
roe. 

(4) Jane Estel'.e Anderson was born at 
Monroe on March 7, 1S3S, and married 
Wm. H. Mitchell, merchant, of Free- 
port, 111. Mr. Mitchell was subse- 
quently a banker in the same place; 
chief deputy U. S. marshal at Chicago 
for four years during the Cleveland 
administration, and was chief clerk 
in the otnce of the secretary of state 
at Springtleid. 111. He is now again a 
merchant at Freeport, III. Two chil- 
dren: Wm. Thornton Mitchell, mar- 
ried, who died in 1SS7. aged 26, leaving 
one son, James B. Mitchell; and Rob- 
ert Bruce Mitchell, lawyer, at present 
city attorney of Freeport, 111., in sec- 
ond term, and who has one child, Rob- 
ert Bruce Mitchell. 

(5) John Clark Anderson was born at 
Monroe on Dec. 11, 1842. He enlisted in 
the Seventh Michigan infantry, served 
in the war of the rebellion until 1S65, 
and was honorably discharged as lieu- 
tenant. He never married, and died 
at Monroe of sickness caused by ex- 
posure and olner nardships of army 
life. 

(o) William Ernest Anderson was born 
at Monroe on Sept. 8, 1845. In 1861 he 
enlisted in the Fifteenth Michigan in- 
fantry, was present at the battle of 
Shiloli and other engagements, and was 
promoted to corporal. He died of 
broken health at Monroe in 1S62 in his 
seventeenth year 

(7) Mary Emma Anderson was born 



at Monroe on Aug. 29, 184!). She never 
married and lives with her mother 
at Monroe. 

(S) Charles Burton Anderson was born 
at Monroe on June 25, 1852. He was a 
painter. He visited Wisconsin, where 
he contracted consumption and came 
home to Monroe. He afterward went 
to the house of hie sister, Mrs. Sayre, 
at South Lyon, and died there in l.SSS. 
He never married. 

Alexander Dniicaii Aiidorson. 

Alexander Duncan Anderson was 
borp. at Monroe on Jan. 4, 1810, and was 



to Detroit in 1S14; entered the law of- 
fice of Gov. Woodbridge; sheriff of 
Wayne county, from 1816 to 1S25: dele- 
gate in congress from Michigan in 
1825-9. and in 1831-3; two terms regent 
of the university, and held several 
other ofilces of trust and honor. Tal- 
cott Wing, son of Austin E., was a 
leading attorney in Monroe county, 
and his sons. Charles R. Wing and 
-\ustin E. Wing, are prominent bank- 
ers in Monroe and Detroit respec- 
tively. 

Warner Wing, wh' TiarrlrMl Eliza 
Anderson. da\i.gh''r of Elizabeth 




COL. JOHN AiSUiil^aOiS, 
A prominent citizen of Monrop. and tlie husband of Elizateth Knagg.«. 



baptized at Ste. Anne's church. De- 
troit, on Oct. 21. 1812. He was in deli- 
cate health all his life, being afflicted 
with spinal disease, but had a brilliant 
mind and fine intellectual attainments. 
He studied law and became an ex- 
cellent lawyer, and served as justice 
of the peace and judge of probate ot 
Monroe county. He married Eliza 
Phillips at Monroe, and they had one 
child, a son named Wing Anderson, 
who died in infancy. Alexander died 
at Monroe on Dec. 20, 1869, in his six- 
tie l-. year, and his wife died about 
1877. 



Eliza Anderson. 

Eliza Anderson was born at French- 
town (Monroe) on Dec. 17, 1808. She 
married Warner Wing in Monroe in 
1831. The Wing family, with which the 
Knaggs family became connected, is 
one of the most distinguished in south- 
ern Michigan. Warner Wing was the 
younger brother of Austin E. Wing, 
a native of Massachusetts, who came 



Kna.g.gs Anderson, was a native of 
Marietta. O.. where he was born in 
ISOd. He went to Detroit in 1817. where 
his brother was sheriff of Wayne 
county, and remained there several 
years. He studied for the bar in the 
ofiice of William Woodbridge, in De- 
troit, and in a law school, at North- 
ampton, Mass. In 1828 he removed to 
Monroe, and remained there until he 
died. In 1840 he went into partnership 
with ex-Gov. Robert McClelland, and 
the connection continued until he 
went upon the bench of the circuit 
court. He was circuit court judge 
from 1846 to 1851. and chief justice 
of the Michigan supreme court in 
lffi2-4. 

Mrs. Eliza Anderson Wing died at 
Monroe on Dec. 16, 1854. She had ten 
children, as follows: 

HER DESCENDANTS. 
(1) Mary Wing, bom at Monroe, 
Mich., May 9, 1SS2. She resided at 
Monroe until her father's death, and 



32 



ELIZABETH KNAGGS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 



Is now employed in one of the Kovern- 
ment departments at Washington, D. 
C. Unmarried. 

(2> Elizabeth Wing, born at Monroe 
Sept. 7. 1S33; married April 18. 1S55. to 
Geo. B. Dickinson, druggist, ot Detroit, 
afterward a grain commission mer- 
chant of Chicago, and who died on 
Aug. 15, 1501. Six children— (1) Warner 
Dickinson, born Aug. IS, 1S57, agent 
of Aetna Life Insurance Co., Chicago 
(2) Burt Dickinson, born Feb. 10, 1859; 
died Jan. 6. 1861. (3) Helen Boardman 
Dickinson, born Oct. 11. 1S60; died 
March 16, 1861. (1) Kate Wing Dickin- 
son, born April 6, 1861; married Dr. 
A. C. Haven, Lake Foie-'t, 111., Sept. 
17. 1881; children— Elizabeth Wing 
Haven, born Oct. 10, 1SS5, Erastus Otis 
Havtn, born Dec. 22. 1SS9: Alfred 
CojCs Haven, born Feb. 10, l.'";.G. (5) 



Mary Dickinson, born Nov. 23, 1862; 
died Feb 14, 1S85. (6) Aurella Dickin- 
son, born May 11, 1S66; died Nov. 29, 
1&S2. 

(3) Catherine Wing, born at Mon- 
roe Sept. 6, 1834; married Joseph H. 
Hunter, attorney, Washington, D. C, 
and now resides there. No children. 

(4) Helen Wing, born at Monroe 
Oct. 5, 1835; married Nov. 3, 1864. 
George B. Boardman, son of Rev. 
George Boardman, of Syracuse, N. Y. 
Dives at Evan.ston, 111. Two daugh- 
ters — £.irah Brayton Boardman. born 
April 11. 18-30, who married Rev. Wm. 
Gnrdincr. of Windsor. Wis., Sept., 
It9<> and Belle .. .iig Boardman. born 
May 12, LSTfi. 

(5) Francis Wing, born at Monroe 
March 13, 1S3S; died A|.ril 23, 1839. 

(6) Anderson Wing, born at Monroe, 



July 14, 1843; practiceB law In that city 
and died there In January, 1880. Un- 
married. 

(7) Warner Wing, born at Monroe 
Oct. 8, 1844; died April 9, 1845. 

(8) Belle Wing, born at Monroe 
Jan. 31, 1S51. Married Charles Cush- 
manLake, grain commission merchant, 
Chicago, 111. Formerly resided at 
Evanston, 111., but now resides at 
Colorado Springs, Col. Children- 
Anita Wing Lake, born at Evanston 
Jan. 2, 1878; Lois Mabel Lake, born at 
Denver, Colo., March 7, 1879, died Sept. 
9. 1879; Carl Wing Lake, born at Den- 
ver June 4, 1881, died May 25, 1882. Mrs. 
Belle Wing Lake is employed at res- 
cue work. 

(9 and 10) Two other children died 
young. 



ANNE KNAGGS. 



Anne Knaggs was the fourth child 
of Oforge Knaggs 1st ami Racht-l S'y; 
was born at Maumt-e on Jan. 11. 1T77. 
and was baptized at Sandwich. In the 
birtli record, which may be rtad in the 
Church of the Assumption. It Is set 
down that she came from the "legit- 



imate marriage of George Knaggs and estant. but that after the birth of 

Kachcl Sly." In the birth record of IClizabeth and before the baptism of 

Elizabeth Knaggs. her older sister, it Anne, the father had Joined the cath- 

Is noted that she was the child "of olic church. No record except that of 

her father and mother in Illegitimate her birth can be found, and she prob- 

marriage." This of course means that ably died young. 
Rachel Knaggs had married a prot- 



REBECCA KNAGGS. 



Rebecca Knaggs. fifth child of 
George Knaggs. 1st. anl Rachel Sly. 
v.'as baptize! at Sandwich, in the 
church o:' L'Assumptlon, in 1778. 
She was born on the Mau- 
meo river, some eight miles above 
Toledo. As rememilwred by Samuel 
May. son of James May, now 
in his eighty-third year. she 
w.na a large, good-looking young 
woman of athletic tastes, and a 
good swimmer. She had light, sandy 
hair, and a blond complexion, with a 
friendly. he;irty manner, and was quite 
frank and ouLspoken. The date of her 
marriage to Capt. Joseph May. brother 
of .lames May, has not been ascertain- 
ed, but it must have been about the 
beginning of 1S16. At that time Angus 
Macintosh was a member of the 
Northwestern Fur Co, and one of Its 
warehouses was on tho Detroit river, 
in what is now tlic city of Windsor 
and close to the town of Walker\'iile 
Macintosh had built there a mansion. 
which Is still standing, which, like all 
the old fur traders" houses, was a 
center of lavish hospitality. In front 
was a dock, distillery, grist windmill, 
warehouses and a shipyard. In the 
latter two two-masted schooners were 
built. Judge James May was Inter- 
ested with him In these ventures. A 
skipper being needed for one of the 
boats, James May wrote to his old 
home In Warwickshire. If^nglanS. and 
Invited his brother, Joseph, to come 
to Detroit and be its captain. Joseph, 
who was a seafaring man, cro.ssed the 
ocean and came to Detroit. He found 
his brother James married to Mar- 
guerite Labadle, twin sister of Josette 
Lnbadle, who was the wife of ^\^llt- 
more Knaggs. He thus became ac- 
quainted with Rebecca, the sister of 
Whitmore. and married her. after a 
short acquaintance. Meanwhile, the 
two boats were being finished and 
fitted out. At her last visit to the 
boat of which her husband was to 
command. Rebecca's nose began to 

bleed. 

A PREMONITION. 

'•You might as well give up Capt 
May," she said to her husband, as she 
held a bloody handkerchief to Vr face. 
"This Is the third time I have come on 



board j'our boat, and each time have 
got the nose bleed. Don't you go out 
on her. for you'll never come home 
alive." 

This, of course, was said In a spirit 
of fun. and her husband laughed. 
Strange to say, her prophecy cam^i 
true. Uoth hoat.s left at the same time 
witli cargoes of skins and other mer- 
chandise. After reachmg Bu.-^io they 



find the remains of her husband. She 
procured a big yawl boat and a crew, 
and coasted around the scene of the 
wr«ck for some time, but - melan- 
choly task was unsuccessful. The 
body of Capt. Joseph May was never 
found. 

She afterward married an Indlar 
trailer named Frazer. and traveled 
with him extensively. They would go 




HEBECCA KXAOGS LOOKING FOR HER HUSBAND'S BODY. 



unloaded and took on cargoes of sup- 
plies for the return trip. Both kept 
company on Lake Erie coming back. 
North of Sandusky. O.. and In prox- 
imity to each other, are three Islands, 
named Middle Sister, West Sister and 
East Sister, respectively. A hurri- 
cane came up and both boats were 
wrecked on one of these islands. The 
captain and crew of the other boat 
were saved, but Capt. May and his 
crew all found watery graves. He and 
his mate were the only white men on 
board, the crew being all colored men. 
AN I'NSfCCEPSFVL SE.^RCH. 
When the sad news reached Rebec- 
ca she was prostrated with grief, but 
quickly recovering, she determined to 

(33) 



up north to Green Bay, Wis., and also 
the head waters of the Missouri, and 
buy furs, take them to Quebec, sell 
them at a large profit, buy their sup- 
plies there to trade with the Indiana, 
and return north to buy more furs. 
At one time, probably after the death 
of her husband, she became stranded 
in Vermont, probably by illness, and 
she was brought back to Monroe 
county by her brother, James Knaggs. 
She owned a farm on the River Raisin 
about seven miles above Monroe, 
which was part of the farm of her 
mother, Rachel Sly Knaggs. Her last 
husband was William Clover, She 
died there In 1S52 or 1S53, when she 
was about 75 years of age. It Is not 
known that she ever had any children. 



JA^ES KNAQQS AND fliS DESCENDANTS. 



James Knaggs, the sixth cliilil of 
G-oorge Knaggs 1st ari'd Rachel Sly. 
was born at Roche lie J!oeuf, a small 
hamlet on the Maumce river, some 
three miles above the site of Fort 
Miami. No record of his birth or bap- 
tism has been found, but it is Itnown 
that he first saw the light about 17,sn. 
He was reared in the midst of all the 
horrors of war. li"rnni the time tint 



er Whitmore, the Indian interpreter 
for Gen. Wayne. In 1.S05 he was ap- 
pointed by Gov. Hull ensign in the 
Second regiment of Michigan militia, 
of which his sister's husband, John 
Anderson, was colonel. It was a year 
or two later that John AnJerson and 
his wife removed from Maumee. wliere 
tliey liad been for years in business 
ir. the Indian trade, to Freiithtown, 



' ' ' >Si5ryr^:-j;^<;;- , 




\\ 



JAMES KNAGGS, 
Til'-- Indian Fl^jlUor and Htio ot War ot 1S12. 



peace was declared between Great 
Britain and the United States in 17S3. 
until the evacuation ot Detroit and 
the northwest in 179C, the region of his 
idrthpl.icc. boyhood and early man- 
Ir.Kid was a tlieater of blood and car- 
nage. The antagonism between the 
white settlers on the Maumee and 
the Raisin, against the Indians, Ca- 
nadian militia and British soldiers, 
was (lerce and bitter, and James's 
enmity to those foes ot his country 
wa.s of consuming intensity. Nothing 
Is l<nown of his boyhood, except that 
at the early age of 14 he was a scout 
and spv In Gen. Wayne's army, at the 
lime the battle of Fallen Timbers was 
fought, and was with his elder broth- 



now Monroe, where they established 
anotiier store. In 1S05 James acquired 
a farm on the Raisin, about a mile 
above Frenchtown, and married a 
wife, whose name was Jemima Grif- 
fin. She was of Dutch descent, lilie 
his mother, and was also a native of 
the Mohawli valley in New Yorlt. She 
bore him a child in ISOli, and died soon 
after. 

HIS LOOKS AND 'WAYS. 
James Knaggs was a man ot more 
than medium size, about six feet in 
hight .and weighed about ISO pounds. 
He was a very Hercules for his size, 
of great strength, lithe and active 
as a wildcat, and as upright as a dart. 
His hair was brown, and his dark 

(34) 



Wue eyes were instinct with intelli- 
gence and mental force. His teeth 
were a curiosity, being all double, and 
after losing Ills llrst teeth in boyhood, 
he rever lost another during his life. 
He was a swift and untiring runner 
and wallcer, a champion wrestler, and 
an expert in woodcraft, excelling the 
brightest Indian in that ac<?omplish- 
ment. In war he was crafty, acute, 
courageous, resourceful and audacious, 
and in civil life he was a man of un- , 
tiring energy and industry. In manner 
he was land, courteous, frank and out- 
spoken, and was fond of humorous 
sayings and anecdotes. In politics he 
was a democrat, and la religion a 
iresbyterian. He was an outspoken 
patriot, and had nothing but contempt 
tor some of his neighbors wlio were 
strongly suspected ot favoring the 
nritisli. it not consorting with them 
. i,(', Ih !r hi.'iian allies. AVhen the oc- 
c::si.:r. :lr;.^•<■ li.- di.! not h; sit-Tte at open 
accusation. A neighboring farmer was 
one of the supposed culprits, and 
James was frank in accusing him of 
disloyalty. I.asalle declared that his 
adhesion to the enemy was only feign- 
ed in order to protect his family, but 
James v/ould not admit the justice of 
Ills plea. They both met some time af- 
ter the massacre of the Raisin, and 
Lasselle ottered ills hand. "No, sir," 
said Jame-!, scornfully, "I don't shake 
hands w;th traitors." 

MItS. KNAGGS WAS PLLICICY. 

ill I.sik; he left his farm and operat- 
ed a ferry over the Huron river, on the 
road to Detroit, and about 12 miles 
north of Monroe. He lived in a region 
which was full of Indians, who at that 
time were very troublesome, being in- 
cited against tihe American settlers 
by the British, and also by Tecumsch, 
the great Shawneo chief, who had more 
inliuencc over the red men than any 
other man of his race. He also kept 
a wayside inn, near the terry, which 
was under the charge ot his second 
wife, Peiagia ("Polly") Roberts, who 
was a daughter of Anthony Roberts 
and Teresa Drouillard. One day. while 
working in the field near the house, 
live Indians come '.o the door. They 
demanded wliisky or rum. "I will not 
give it to you." said Mrs. Knaggs. 
They drew near and lirandished their 
tomahawks, in order to scare 'her, but 
Mrs. Knaggs was not frightenctl. She 
even d'l.=<dained to call out tor her hus- 
band. The liquor was stored in the 
attic, and she retreated upstairs to 
protect It. They followed her upstairs, 
and then tried another scheme to in- 
timidate lier. Each ot tlie five emptied 
part of their powder horns on the floor, 
making a pile ot gunpowder. Then 
they threatened to explode the powder 
and blow up the house, and everybody 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



in it, including themse'lves. "Get out 
of here," said the undaunted woman. 
She took up a hickory splint broom, 
scattered the powder, and belabored 
the Indians, driving them out of the 
house. The red man might have mal- 
treated any other woman, but they 
knew better than to molest the wife 
or James Knaggs. 
James had several other encounters 



B. F. H. Wltherell; the memories of 
Mrs. Keysor, of Maumee, widow ot 
George B. Knaggs; her daughter. Miss 
Antoinette Knaggs, and also of sev- 
eral of his grandsons. Some of these 
have not been published before, par- 
ticularly an experience where he es- 
caped being burned at tne stake. Al- 
together they form a history of strik- 
ing and romantic adventuit, recalling 



He thanked her and waited. The In- 
dian came, according to the warning, 
and he noticed others hanging back 
in the woods. The Indian got into 
the canoe, and it was pushed off the 
bank. When the Indian stealthily 
drew a knife, James struck him with 
his paddle, and he fell into the water. 
Then he seized him by the scalp lock, 
grasped the hand which held the knit<i, 




.TAMES KNAGGS SAVED FROM INCRt.MATlON BY THE MOTHER OP THE DELAWARE IXDIaN HE HAD KILLED 



with the savages before the commence- 
ment of the war of 1.SV2, but of these 
only a few scattered tacts are remem- 
bered in the family. In narrating the 
authentic accounts of some his doings 
the writer has made use of the paper 
ot Mrs. May Stocking Knaggs, of Bay 
City, which was published In the Mich- 
igan Pioneer Collections In 1S90; the 
History of Monroe County, by Tal- 
cott Wing; the reraiinlscences of Judge 



some of the thrilling episodes of 
Leather Stocking and other heroes ot 
the western backwoods. 

TOO QUICK FOR THE INDIAN. 

While operating the terry a squaw 
who had been befriended by hi.s wife, 
told him that a certain Indian, whom 
he knew, would come to the ferry and 
-ask to be taken across the Huron, and 
would attack him while in the canoe. 



and plunged him under the water and 
held him down, until he was half- 
drowned. When the Indians who had 
been watching the pair cajne forward, 
he lifted the insensible man out of the 
water, and they resuscitated him on 
ihe bank. The defeated red man 
was so grateful that he wa.s riOt 
killed, that he afterward presented 
James with a bright colored hand- 
kerchief. 



i6 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



AN INSULTED SQUAW. 

One day an Indian On foot and a 
squaw mountid on a pony passed by. 
The sciuavv cariied a gun across her 
lap Jamrs went out of his house and 
said, "'IjOt nie see that gun." The 
K<juaw Si-eme*! disposed to disregard 
thi" order, but slowly handed over the 
gun for James to examine. He recog- 
nized the wejipon as the property of a 
white neighbor, and said so, but tlie 
Indian said he had bought it. Jamea 
gave back the gun and went on with 
his work about the house. A little 
Willie afterward the Indian came back, 
ton.ahawk in hand, and striking the 
gate with it, shouted "Come out here." 
Ji.nus saw there was only one in con- 
tend with, and he went out and picked 
u^ a bean pole. The Indian advanced 
to strike him. but James struck him 
lirsL with the pole, and broke his wrist, 
and tile tomahawk fell to the ground. 
The Indian picked It up with his other 
h.uid and went away nuieth'. Some 
lime afterward James accompanied by 
his eldest son, Georee. then a little 
boy. went on a hunting expedition. 
After a long tr.imp they came to an 
Indian wigwam, and asked shelter, 
which was granted. After supper the 
luac of the family held up his wrist, 
which was misshapen and said: "You 
did that." James then recognized hlni 
as the Indian whom he had fought 
with the bean oole. 

"What iiia you come at me with your 
ti n^.ahawk for?" imiulred James. 

"Oh. the .stpiaw heap mad when you 
made her show the gun," he answered. 

"You might have killed me If you 
had thrown your tomahawk," said 
James. 

"I might," rejoined the Indian, "but 
I ndght have been killed myself. Let 
me tell you a little stary. -V white man 
w.is oni-e taken by my tribe, and we 
sentenced him to run the gauntlet. He 
was allowed to take off his shoes and 
to tie his handkerchief tightly around 
hiK head. Then he started down the 
line, and although he wag struck sev- 
eral times, he got away at the end. 
We followed him, but he was swift 
and strong, and he tired us all out, 
one by one, until there was only 
three left. He kept running, but slow- 
er, and the foremost Indian gained on 
him, and faking a good aim, threw 
his tomahawk at his head. But the 
v.iiite man w.is cunning. He looked 
around, saw the tomahawk coming, 
str.oped down, and it passed over his 
head and fell to the ground. Then he 
seized it, turned on the Indian, who 
was too tired lix run. and brained him. 
Then he attacked the second Indian, 
and killed him. too. I was the third 
Indian. I did not follow any more. I 
turned and ran hack. Since then I 
don't throw my tomahawk." 

I.IKK A P.VGE OF COOPER. 
He had several renconlers with the 
Indians before the war of 1X12 eom- 
nienod. hut of these (mly a few seat- 
lered faiis are remembered in the fam- 
ily traditions. But one of these hap- 
pened In ISHS. when he kept the forry 
across the Huron river. A hrlef ac- 
count of this episode is preserved in 
th.5 British archives. In the diary of 
Col. Wm. Claus. of the British army, 
then stationed at Fort Maiden, in Am- 



herstburg, an entry made on May IG, 
IRIS, says: "An old Mlsquakee and a 
pok-marked Huron chief have been to 
see Gen. Hull at Detroit, where they 
complained of two Delawares having 
been killed by Xaggs. who kept a ferry 
at the River Huron; that on a former 
occiislon he had acted improperly, and 
asked tliat he be removed. Hull an- 
swered that the next time that Naggs 
behi.vid Improperly that he would be 
removed." 




JAME.'^ KNAGOS. 
Col y '>*' slthoiKttc taken o\rr UK) yrars ago, 
r.iiw In ii.l.^sessl(in of Mr:;, iteboeca 
Knaggs Truosdell. 



.\ full account of the same Incident Is 
as follows: While operating the ferry 
he antagonized two j oung Delaware 
Ind'ans, one of whom was a onicfs 
son. They both threatened to kill him 
and they tried to keep their word. One 
morning they knocked at the door of 
his log store. Not suspecting danger 
a', that time, he opened It, when they 
both fired their guns at him. Although 
the guns were discharged at a distance 
of not more than six feet, both hullets 
mLssed striking his body and traversed 
his clothing on either .side. He prompt- 
ly shut the door and barred it before 
they could rush in, and, in a twinkling, 
got out of a windftw in the rear. The 
Iwo Indians came there with toma- 
hawks In their hands, and chased him 
around the house. He had left a hoe 
at the.sidi' of the house, but had to 
l)ass by It twice, as he had no time to 
snatch it. But the third time he grab- 
bed the hoe, and Immedia'tely assum- 
ing the offensive, turning on the chief's 
son he drove the hoe Into his skull, 
killing him Instantly. The other In- 
dian sought safety in flight, but he was 
doomed. James was tleeter of foot 
than any Indian in the northwest, and 
he easily overtook him and killed him 
with the same weapon. The news s<ton 
reached the tribe and several Indians 
came to his house, and after viewing 
the body and hearing .1 imcs's story, 
took them away. The tribe took no 
action, the red me>: either holding the 
opinion that the two homicides were 
Justlllable, or afraid that any revenge 
would bring punishment upon them by 
the American authorities. 



"YOtl KILLED Ml SOM." 

Next fall. James was laying a ral'. 
fence, when the old chief, father oT 
one of tile young Indians, rode up to 
the cabin. He was In his war paint 
ami held a gun In his hand. 

"You killed my son," he said. 

James was unarmed, and he saw 
In an Instant that he was In Imminent 
ilanger. He assumed a friendly man 
ner and said in the Delaware tongue: 

"Yes, chief, I killed your son. Ho 
came to kill me, and I killed him. It 
wa-; either my lite or his. Now, If you 
had been In my place what would you 
have done?" 

The chief was old, and the address 
seemed to afteet him. As James spoke 
he came slowiy forward to the chief, 
end a few more words passed between 
them, when he suddenly sprang for- 
ward like a panther, and before the 
chle; could rai.se his gun he was seized, 
drjsKed oft his horse and the gun 
taken from him. Several other Indians 
then came, and th,- chief went away 
v.'.tl. them. 

A sequel to this ineidmt is related by 
.Mrs. Keysor, of Maumee, widow of 
I'.corge B. Knaggs: When Harrison's 
army w.as in l''ort Mclgs. in KU, James 
was a scout and spy in the American 
service. One day he and Capt. John, 
an Indian chief who was friendly to 
the American cause, and a white man 
wiiose name is not remembered, set 
out on a scouting expedition. Although 
all three were used to Indian ways and 
warfare, they fell into an Indian trap 
and were tired at. The white man 
was killed, Capt. John escaped, and 
Jan.es was taken prisoner, and his 
kgs and arms tied. He was taken 
ii.to an Indian village and laid tied in 
a tepee, while the hetid men of the 
tribe proceeded to try him. The mem- 
bers of this aboriginal tribunal, seated 
themselves in a circle, ami among them 
was the old chief whose son he had 
killed. The conference was quite short. 
His captors all knew James's record 
and he was soon condemned to death. 
Another discussion followed as to how- 
he should be put out of the world, and 
it was decided that he should endure 
the worst punishment an Indian could 
iiilllet, namely, 

KURNEl) AT THIO STAKE. 

As he lay buund in the tepee he was 
watched by Indians all night, and 
when the gray dawn appeared he was 
carried to the foot e>f a tall tree'. He 
was told to stand up. and he did so, 
and surveyed his captors with a 
haughty, defiant air, as they bound 
him to the trunk of the tree and piled 
resinous wood around him. One of the 
squaws, an old woman, elrew near, and 
looked at him earnestly, and with a 
pitying expression. Slie was a partner 
of the old chie'f, and the mother of the 
ye.ung man he had killed. Then an In- 
dian drew near with a blazing torch of 
light wood, when the old squaw pushed 
him aside, held up a belt of wampum 
In her hand, put It around James's 
neck, and with a caivss, said "You are 
my son." 

Stolid and unimpressionable as are 
the Indians generally, the scene be- 
trayed them Into unwonted emotion. 
The old chief and several others were 
enraged, but the majority. Including 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



37 



• he squaws, seemed to approve the old 
mother'i action, which was equivalent 
to an adoption, and among the In- 
dJan-i always saved a victim's life. The 
vengeance of the father was balked, 
and iifter a brief conference, James 
was given a horse, saddle and bridle 
and set free. 

Another Indian of great size and 
strinsth watched him for .scvi'ral 
da.va from the woods in the nclgli- 
borhood of his house. He saw James 
come with his ax to the woods near 
whtre he was secretf^d, and crept close 
to where he v/as, thinking lie would 
catch him unawares, and finally 



A white neighbor pa.ssed along, to 
v.'honi he explained the incident, add- 
ing: "I'm satisfied they will never 
lind him." And they never did. 

In ISll! he gave up the terry busi- 
ness and lived on his farm, which 
was on the Raisin, a mile above 
Vf' ni'htown. As i spy and disp:i(cb 
curler during the first part of tlie 
war, lie was In constant danger of his 
li'e. He traveled mostly through the 
woods at night, rarely going on the 
loads or trails, and many timt-s wit- 
nessed scenes of barbarous murders 
cimmitted by Indians on!.\' a shr)rr 
time before. Among such atro.-itio.'i 




COL. McnnEGOR TAKEN PRISONER BY .T.WIER KNAGG.? AND MEDARD 

I^BADIB. 



sprang up near lilm. tomahawk in 
hind. Hut James heard a slight mo- 
tion in his rear, evaded the tomahawk, 
and brained the Indian with his ax. 
Then James did some rapid thinking. 
There were hundreds of Indians in 
the nr-ighborhood, and he knew the 
dead man would soon be missed, and 
a ."eareh instituted. The problem, was 
perplexing, hut while he was in 
doubt, he shouldered the corpse and 
trudged through the woods looking 
for a favorable place to dispose of 
the body. He came upon a large 
tree that had recently been blown 
uowii by the wind, tnd its roots wore 
raised above the ground, leaving a 
hole. Taking some of tho loose earth 
cut of the hole with his hands, he laid 
the body in it. Then he cut the 
tree off near the stump, and the 
slump (ell back into the hole, com- 
pletely covering up the dead Indian. 



were the killing, scalping and mulilat- 

irg grown men and women, and lit- 
tle children cut to pieces, and their 
hearts taken out and rubbed against 
looking glasses and window panes. 
He afterward enlisted in a mounted 
company of scouts and spies under 
Capt. Isaac Lee. 

CAPTURED COL. MCGREGOR. 
When Hull's troops were quartered 
at Sandwich, .-cross the Detroit river, 
opposite Detroit. James Knaggs and 
Medard Labadle, a relative by mar- 
riage, accompanied a small scouting 
expedition into Canada in the vicin- 
ity of the Thames river, near 
Chatham. Halting at a log house 
they were told by a woman that there 
was .a strong force of British not far 
ahead. James counseled caution, but 
one of the company made a sneering 
remark, which reflected on his cour- 



age. James was .^tu.ife to tho quick. 
He sprang into his saddle with an 
oath, and challenged his critic to fol- 
low. They reached the British 
c imp. and were fired on ana pursued. 
'l"hri.-e of thiir companions were shot 
ilown and captured, but Knaggs and 
l..abadie escaped unhurt. They were 
pursued for several miles, but their 
hor.^is were good, aiid their pursuers 
d.'-oi)pcd oft' one by one. Looking 
back they saw only one pursuer loft, 
IV ho with his hor.3e was floundering 
ill a quagmire. Knaggs wheeled 
about and going to the man, com- 
pi ll'-.l him to surrender. The prison- 
c, v.-hj :<(.em<;l lo ."lave more zial and 
courage Ihan fliscretioii, proved to be 
( o! McGregor, a Ui-iUsh olheer and a 
c'lioleric .Scotchman He made so 
i.iaiiy violent objections that Knaggs 
i-i li his hgs below his hor.':e's beliy, 
and ill tliat condition brought hiin 
into camp. Hut liuli's surrender gave 
.\li;Gnsor his liberty again, and one of 
tu;; first acts was to oficr a reward 
of Silw lor the capture of Kna.ijgs. 
■;. :id or allvo. 

AT l''RENriff(nVN. 
.Iii.^it ncfore the surrender of lu- 
uoii Gov. Mii(_:3, of Ohio, rcspondiiiB 
ti a call for provisions lor the Ohio 
troops, then oefending lietroil, sent 
a sir.all foreo of Ohio miliiia, under 
<.'ai-'t. Henry lirusli, as a convoy lo 
some SO wagonloails of provisions. 
I.rush iirrivid at l''renchIo-,vn, but the 
scouts warned him that the Ilriti.si. 
r.iid Indians were Ih tw.'on hlin and 
letroit. Ho accordingly unt James 
Kn.ifjBS v.kh a letti r to lUdi, asking 
I'.r a loi'ce of troops strong enough 
to lorce their way through with the 
provisions. Brush had meiinwhile been 
joined by Capt. Tom Itowland, after- 
v.a-d a prominent citizen of Detroit, 
itov.iaiid was captain of a militia 
company from New Lisbon, O. Hull 
SI nt Maj. Van Hern with 200 men, 
but ihls small force was routed at 
Lrownstown by Tecumseh's Indians 
ard the British troops. ^Vhcn Hull 
li arncd of this defeat he was on the 
c:anada side of the Detroit river, and 
he ih.-n orour.ht his troops over again 
to Deir.>it. He then onlered Lleut.- 
(,'oI. Miller to head COO men and force 
a way to the Raisin. Miller fought 
Willi the enemy at a point below 
Minguagon, but faileu to effect a 
l.ast-age. Then Hull, with his usu.il 
fatuity, sent 350 troops under 
Cols. McArlhur and Cass, taut two 
duys afterward sent a courier order- 
ing them to return. Before they re- 
turned, however, Hull had surrender- 
ed Detroit, and ivhen they arrived 
they were made prisoners of war. 
Gen Brock then sent Capt. Matthew 
Klliolt, a British officer, with a ll.ag 
of truce, to Frenchtown to inform 
Brush that his force had also been 
surrendered. When Rowland heard 
what Klliott said, he shouted "Trea- 
son!" Klliott wa.s made a. prisoner, 
and the provisions were distributed 
among the inhabitanis Then the 
Ohio force retreated swiftly to that 
state. When this was learned in 
Detroit Tecumseh followed the retreat- 
ina Ohioans with a force of mounted 
Indians, but did not capture them. 
James Knaggs remained behind in the 



36 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS nESCENDANTS. 



woods with l)ls brothers. Thomas ;in(] 
Williiim. Ttciimseh's Indiana, in re- 
venge, plundered the little settlement 
and jll the horses and cattle were 
oriven away. James was in need of 
a horse, and he bought one that had 
been secreted in a cellar by its owner, 
a tailor. lie paid for It with his .»il- 
ver watch and a coat. The brothers 
!lnn proceeded to Urbana. O.. where 
they joined Harrison's force. 

Ills duty called him elsewhere, and 
he was not with Gen. Winchester 
when he was defeated by Proctor at 
Ihc battle of the Kalsln on Jan. J2. 
ISVA. When Winehc-ster's troops ar- 
rived at Frenchtcnvn James's wife and 
his little son George .vent to the house 
of La Salle, whore Georg'c was hid- 
den In the chimney during the ter- 
rible, lay anl night cf the massacre. 

Vv'hlle the British were in possession 
of Detroit, In lS12-:3. he frequently 
ventured near the city in order to de- 
liver to the loyal Americans missives 
from Gen. Harrison and his subordi- 
nates, and also to receive from them 
reports as to the military strength of 
the garrison and other matters. At 
the time of the battle of Put-in-Eay 
he was in hiding on the opposite side 
of the river, in quest of information 
to convey to the .\merican general. 
The late Aura P. Stewart, of St. Clair. 
ilich.. related the following incident 
with which he was connected at that 
time: 

ll.'^ Xt^TIFIED PERRY. 

"While the British held Detroit, the 
citizens weie virtually held in con- 
finement, and were not allowed to 
leave the town -\ merchant, how- 
e\'cr. by special f.avor. was allowed to 
go to Amherstburg, IS miles distant. 
at the mouth of the Detroit river. t.> 
s» itle some business, and while he was 
there, on the 10th of September. ISUl, 
the naval battle of Putin-Bay took 
place. The merchant had a telescope 
and mounted to the top of a house, 
and from there saw that the British 
fleet was defeated. He returned to De- 
troit on a swift horse, but the officer 
in command at Detroit got the news 
'oefore him. and preparations for flight 
had begun. The officer held the news 
secret, and the merchant did the same, 
because they were both afraid that 
the QOO Indians in camp at Ecorse 
might break loose and proceed to rob 
and murder the inhabitants. The mer- 
chant called a secret meeting of anti- 
British friends, and eight persons were 
selected to go in a big canoe and car- 
ry a message to Commodore Perry. 
The names of the eight were James 
Knaggs. William Macomb, William 
Connor. Henry Graverat. Charles 
Stewart and three others. Each had a 
paddle, and they propelled the canoe 
down the river at a high rate of speed 
on the night of Sept. 27. Arrived at 
the mouth of the river they saw no 
ships, but heard the sound of guns. 
They hailed: 'Boat, ahoy!' The an- 
swer %va3: 'Ariel; what boat Is that?' 
"A canoe from Detroit with a message 
to Commodore Perry.' was the reply. 
The ofllcer In charge of the Ariel's 
boat took the canoe In tow and 
brought it to the commodore's ship. 
The eight went on board -and saw 
Perry, and told him that the people of 



Detroit wanted him to come there as 
soon as possible. 

" 'I will bring qjy ships, if the Lord 
permits, by 9 o'clock tomorrow.' said 
Perry. 

"He then employed the eight to pilot 
his ships up the River Thames. This 
course had been determined upon, but 
he did not ascend the Thames for five 
or six days afterward. 

FI.J.IRf;i;E.\DTH ESCAPES. 
During the war he made frequent 
visits to hi;; homo on the Raisin to see 
his family. The S500 offered by Col. 



their minds to make sure of It by 
shooting him. So he said in the In- 
dian tongue: 

"You have caught me. and I give up. 
You can take me; I will go along with 
you. But here, now, I want to split 
that log. and I want your help. Y'ou 
can have to say that you split a log 
for me. Now this log is hard to split, 
you see. Lots of knots there. Now 
if you hold it open there where It is 
split. I can drive in another wedge." 

The Indians consented. They laid 
down their guns at their feet, and put 
their lingers in the split. James th.^n 




.I.VMES KN.VOG.-; .\ND SEVEN OTHEl'-S VISIT CnilMODORE PElIRY 



McGregor for his apprehension, dead 
or alive, caused him a great deal of 
troubic. and he literally took his life 
in his hand every time he went home. 
One day while sitting at dinner in 
his home he heard the sound of horses' 
hoofs. Looking out he saw three Brit- 
ish officers, who got off their horses 
in his dooryard. He jumped out of a 
window and reached a cornfield, with 
the officers and some Indians in hot 
pursuit. Reaching the old catholic 
mission church on the north side of 
the Raisin he ran into the enclosure, 
and was befriended by an old French- 
man named Hivon. who lived next to 
the church. Hivon hid him in the cel- 
lar. The British officers arrived a few 
moments later and inquired about the 
fugitive. "Oh." said Hivon. "he has 
crossed the river." The officers gave 
up the chase and went away. 

While on n short visit home after- 
ward, he undertook to split some rails, 
and while thus engaged three armed 
Indians came suddenly upon him. 
They were evident^-- bent on catching 
him. and seemed to have made up 



took the wooden maul and struck the 
log close to the wedge. It popped 
out. as he intended it should, and the 
fingers of the three Indians were 
caught in the split. 

In after years when he told the 
story, the usual question was: "Wh.at 
did you do with the Indians?" and he 
always said: "Oh, they went to 
sleep." 

The same story has been told about 
him. with five Indians instead of three, 
but the latter seems somewhat im- 
probable. 

J.\MES AT THE THAMES. 

In the campaign that oonimenced 
with the retreat of Proctor from Am- 
herstburg and Detroit, to the Thames, 
and ended with his defeat by Harri- 
son at Moravlantown, James Knaggs 
w;is always In front, as a mounted 
scout and spy, and he waa accompan- 
ied by his kinsman, Medard Labadie. 
They were both under the command 
of Col. Richard M. Johnson, afterward 
vice-president of the United States. 
In the battle mentioned, which took 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



39 



place on Oct. 5, 1813, Tecumseh was 
killed. The story of his killing is ex- 
cellently told by James Knaggs, in his 
afTidavlt, which he sware to at Mon- 
roe, on Sept. 32, 1853, 'before B. F. H. 
Witherell, the maternal uncle ot Ex- 
Senator Thomas W. Palmer, of De- 
troit, as follows: 



upon US, with Tecumseh at their head. 
I distinctly heard his voice, with which 
I was perfectly familiar. He yelled 
like a tiger, and urged his braves to 
the attack. We were then but a tew 
yards apart. We halted on the hard 
ground, and continued our fire. After 
a few minutes ot very severe firing, 

THE DEATH OF TECUMSEH. 



20 feet from the colonel. He was 
stretched at full length, and was shot 
through the body, I think, near the 
heart. The ball went through his back. 
He held his tomahawk in his right 
hand (it had a brass pipe at the head 
of it): his arm was extended as it 
striking and the edge of the tomahawk 




^r TUB B.\TTLE OF THE THAMES JAMES KNAGGS AND MBDARD LABADI E FOUND TECUMSEH DEAD. AND COL. 

lilCHARD M. JOHNSON L,YING WOUNDED NE.\R BY. 



TECUM.SEH'S DE.\TH. 
"I was attached to a company of 
mounted men, called Rangers, at the 
battle of the Thames, in Upper Can- 
ad. in the year 1813. During the battle 
we charged into a swamp, where sev- 
eral of our horses mired down, and an 
order was given to retire to the hard 
ground in our rear, which we did. The 
Indians in front of us, believing we 
were retreating. Immediately advanced 



I discovered Col. Richard M. Johnson 
lying on the ground, with one leg pin- 
ioned by the body of his white mare, 
which had been killed. My friend, M. 
l.abadie. was with me. We went up 
to the colonel, with whom we were 
previou.'=ly acquainted, and found him 
badly wounded, lyinfj on nls side, with 
one of his pistols lying in his hand. 
I saw Tecumseh at tlie same time, ly- 
ing nn his face, dead, and about 15 or 



was stuck in the ground. Tecumseh 
was dressed in red .speckled leggings, 
and a fringed hunting shirt; he lay 
stretched toward Col. Johnson. When 
we went up to the colonel, we offered 
to help him. He replied with anima- 
tion: 'Knaggs, let me lay here and 
push on and take proctor.' However, 
we liberatid him from his dead horse, 
took his blanlcet from his saddle, 
placed him on it. and bore him off 



40 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



the flelfl. I had known Tecumsoh from til his death. In those days money 

my boyhood — we were boys together, was seldom deposited in banks, and 

There was no otlier Indian immediate- was generally hidden In the eartTi near 

l.v around where Tecumseh and Col. dwelling places. James Knagg.s was 

Johnson lay. though there were many known to have a good store of coin, 

near the small creelc a few rods back I'Ut w-hen he died, his heirs could find 

of the place where Tecumseh fell. I nothing in the house. Then they com- 

had no doubt then and have none now menced to dig up the lot, until it re- 

that Tecumseli fell by the hand of Col. sembled the excavation for a railroad. 

Johnson." It was never known whether any mon- 

IN POLITICS. ey was found, but two persons became 

In the political campaign of ISIO, tolerably well off after his death, 

when the democratic hosts were led James died on Friday, Dec. 23, 1860, 

by Martin Van Buren and Richard aged SO years. 




JA.MKS KNAGGS TIIAPl'ED THE INDIANS WHO CAME TO CAPTURE HIM. 

M. Johnson, for a second term, and James Knaggs was married three 

were defeated by the whlgs under times. As before stated his first wife '"""I'ship on Jan. 4, 1901. 



GeorKe KnaKKs. 

George Knaggs, son of James 
Knaggs. and grandson of George 
Knaggs, 1st, was born on Nov. 25, 1S06, 
In that part of Frenchtow^n which Is 
now the fourth ward of the city of 
Monroe, on the farm now owned by 
Joseph Huber. He was the eldest 
child of James Knaggs and was the 
last of his children to die, living to the 
ripe age of 94 years and 2 months. 

He lived all of his life in Monroe 
county, and, with the exception of a 
two years' residence In Summerfleld 
township, In the same county, he was 
always a farmer in Raislnville town- 
ship and made It his -home. As a 
husbandman he had tow superiors. A 
sketch which appeared In a Detroit 
newspaper in 1900 said: "Mr. Knaggs 
owns a farm near Maybec of lOO acres, 
most ot it under a good state of cul- 
tivation, and the work done on the 
farm, with the exception of a month or 
so during harvest time, is done by Mr. 
Knaggs. He is an early riser. 
At the present writing he Is plow- 
ing a field of 15 acres prepara- 
toT-y to sowing a crop of oats. A young- 
er man might look with envious eyes 
at the amount of land turned over by 
Mr. Knaggs In one day, as that .Tmonnt 
riins from an acre and a half to two 
acres. He can mount a horse from the 
ground without any assistance what- 
ever, and with more ease than many 
men of half his age, and not long agr. 
he conceived the idea that he wouM 
like to learn to ride a bicycle. How- 
ever, he has not tried the feat, but 
is liable to at any time. 

"He remembers well the encounters 
of the Indians and the whiles along 
the River Raisin and when a boy w.is 
hid by his f.ither some time from the 
Indians in a large chimney over a fire- 
place, in a friend's house. 

"He was married twice, and Is the 
father of 13 children. He is well known 
lo ail the residents of Monroe, Mayliee 
and all surrounding towns and is .a 
general favorite. He Is of unusually 
cheerful disposition and is always will- 
ing to help those in distress. He i.s also 
noted for unusual strength of body, 
and at the age of 75 years was almost 
equal to a Sandow. At 93 he still re- 
tains an unusual amount of physical 
power." 
He died at his home In Raislnville 



His first wife was Nancy Lampkln, 
whom he married on Jan. 12. 1828. Nine 
children were born to them, two of 
whom survive. 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Eunice Knaggs, died at the 



Hiarrison and Tyler, James Knaggs was Jemima Griffin, whom he mar- 
aud Medard I/abadle were political ried in ISfto, and their first child, Geo. 
(luantltles. When Lewis Cass stumped Kna.ggs. was born on Nov. 27, 180S. 
the state of Miehican for Van Euren His wife died before ISll, and he after- 
and Johnson, ho was acconn>anied by ward married Pelagic ("Polly") Rob- 
these two good soldiers and stout erts. daughter of Anthony Roberts and 
democrats. They were always seated Teresa Drouillard. By his second wile age of 2V4 years by being accidentally 
on the speaker's platform, and were in- he had eight children: Jamea, Jemi- scalded. 

trodiiced to the audiences as the brave lua, Eliza. Johnson. Rebecca, Caroline, (2) Whitmore Knaggs died In In- 

meii who carried Col. Johnson oft the Robert and Whitmore. The last named fancy. 

field ot battle. The democrats always died In infancy. Mrs. Pelagie Knaggs (3) Maria Knaggs died at the age ot 

claimed that Johnson slew Tecumseh, died in 1859. Shortly afterward, on " years. 

and the whigs. .ns a matter of course, Nov. C, 1S50. he married Mrs. Alice H) James G. Knaggs, born In Sum- 

.said it was not so. and the matter Couture, widow of Medard Couture, merfield township, in 1S34. Married 

will never be determined. There were whose maiden name was Benson. Her Adelaide Moses, daughter of a Ralsln- 

many who believed that James Knaggs first name was sometimes called Elise. vllle township farmer. He died on Oct. 

was the man, but he always denied Her first husband was a well-educated 14,1900. Six children— (1) Frank Knaggs, 
it. 

HIS LAST DATS. 

In his latter days he removed from 
his farm to the city ot Monroe, for- 
merly Frenchtown, and lived there un- 



man, and was intended for the Toledo, married Mary Sullivan. One 

priesthood. lie held several pub- child— William Knaggs. His wife died 

lie olticcs In Monroe county. There and ho married her sister, Agnes. One 

were no children by the third child— Lydia Knaggs. (2) Susan 

marriage. Knaggs married Mr. J. Davis, carpen- 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



41 



ter. Chicago. Two children— Frederick 
Davis died young, and Thurlow Davis 
lives with his parents. (3) Fred- 
erick Knaggs. farmer, Milan, Mich., 
married Addie Redmond. One child, a 
daughter. Goldie Knaggs. (4) Charles 
Knaggs. farmer and mechanic. Milan, 
Mich., married Leila Ash. Two chil- 
dren— Thurlow Knaggs and Willis 
Knaggs. (3). George T. Knaggs, con- 
tracting carpenter, No. 1S3B DetrtiU 




GEORGE KNAGGS, 
Oldest c-on of James Knaggs, the Indian 
fighter, and grandson of George Knaggs 

lEt. 

avenue, Toledo, O., married Gcrtrudo 
Libby, of Milan, Mich., on Feb. 24, 
1S92. Two children, both born in 
Milan- Boulah Knaggs, born 1S93, and 
James G. Knaggs, born 1S94. f6) Ada 
Kn.iggs, married Arthur Bradley, at 
Milan. They separated— no children. 
She now lives in Toledo. 

(5) Alvira Knaggs, born 1839, married 
Corydon Gibson, farmer, of Monroe, in 
1S3S. They now live at Dundee, Mich. 
One child, Clara Gibson, who married 
Seth P. Tinsman. livery stable keeper. 
They had one child who died in in- 
fancy. 

(6) Harriet Knaggs, born in 1S41, mar- 
ried in 1S5S Wellington Ellis, surveyor, 
Detroit. Two children— one died in in- 
fancy; the other, Perry Ellis, lives in 
Detroit. 

(7) Lucinda Knaggs, born in 1843, 
married in l.SCl, Francis Cropsey, farm- 
er. Raisinvllle township. Three chil- 
dren— (1) Frank Cropsey, Troy, N. Y., 
married and has nine children. (2) 
Child who died in infancy. (3) Charles 
B. Cropsey, telephone agent. Dundee, 
Michigan., married, no children. 

(S) Helen Knaggs, born 1S45, married 
James M. Lawrence, carpenter, Milan, 
Mich. She died at Saginaw, Mich., in 
1S73. Two children— Charles Lawrence, 
lived at Elk Station, Mich., unmarried. 
The other child died in infancy. 

(9) The ninth child died in infancy. 

In 1S60 George Knaggs married Mar- 
garet E. Morris, who still survives at 
the old homestead. Four more chil- 
dren resulted from this union as fol- 
lows: 

(10) Eliza V. Knaggs, married Hen- 
ry Householder, cooper, Maybee vil- 
lage, Exeter township. Two children- 



George Householder and Nellie House- 
holder. Nellie died in infancy. Eliza's 
first husband died and she married 
Alonzo Collins, farmer, Exeter town- 
ship. Four children— Harry Collins, 
died in infancy; Irene Collins, Bertha 
Collins and Margaret Collins. 

(11) Mary Knaggs, unmarried, lives 
with her mother. 

(12) Nellie Knaggs died unmarried, 
aged 17 years. 

(!3) Ida Knaggs, married John Tay- 
lor, farmer, Britton, Lenawee county. 
Two children— George Taylor and 
James Taylor. 

Jniues Knases- 

James Knaggs. son of James 
Knaggs. the Indian fighter, and grand- 
son of George Knaggs. 1st. was born 
in iSlO. in Raisinville township, on hi.^ 
father's farm, on the north side of 
the River Raisin, about eight miles 
above Monroe. He received from his 
father a farm of 100 acres, also situat- 
ed on that river, about a mile further 
up stream from the parental acres. 
He learned the carpenter's trade, and 
worked at it In Michigan, Illinois, New- 
York and several other states. While 
in New York, he worked in the Mo- 
hawk valley, and there became ac- 
quainted with a family named Lau. 
He fell in love with one of the daugh- 
ters, named Clarissa, married her. and 
the young pair came west. He first 
settled at Joliet, III., where he con- 
tinued to work at his trade. He after- 
ward went to Michigan City, Ind.. and 
finally removed to his native place and 
settled on his own land on the Raisin 
river. Besides general farming he 
was extensively engaged in the manu- 
facture of lime. He died at the house 
of his daughter Rebecca, wife of Wm. 
Truesdell. on the farm of the latter 
in Canton township. Wayne county, 
Mich., on Nov. -.S. ISOl. He was mar- 
ried twice. By his first wife, Clarissa 
Lau, he had ten children. By his 
second wile, Emeline Leonard, widow 

of R?,nd.ill. he hnd n^ children. 

His first wife died on Feb. S, 1851. His 
second wife lives at Ann Arbor. 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Rebecca Knaggs. married Will- 
iam Truesdell. farmer. Canton town- 
ship. Wayne county. Four children— 
(1) Henry Truesdell, unmarried, 
drowned in Missaukee county, aged 23 
years, (2) Sarah Truesdell. married 
first Frank Forbes. Belleville. Mich., 
who died about 1388; no children. Sarah 
married, second. Harry Potter, under- 
taker. Belleville: no children. (3) 
Norah Truesdell. married Frank Jor- 
dan, lumberman, one child — Ara Marrs 
Jordan, who lives with her aunt, Sarah 
Potter. Mrs. Norah Jordan died April 
2, 1885. (4) Clarissa Truesdell. married 
Lester Ramer, farmer, Fowlerville, 
Livingstone county, Mich., no children. 

(2) Lydia Knaggs. married Edward 
Brunson, farmer. Ida township. Mon- 
roe county. He enlisted in a Michigan 
regiment, fought in the war of the re- 
bellion, and was killed in battle. They 
had two children. (1) Lucy Brunson, 
died in Chicago, in 1S9S. (2) Clara Brun- 
son. married Lawrence Lampkins, 
farmer. London township. Monroe 
county, two children— Fanny Lamp- 
kins, and Mary Lampkins. Clara part- 



ed from her husband and married 
again, her second husband being Al- 
bert Klevettier, Ypsilanti. no children. 
Lydia Knaggs Brunson. after the 
death of her first husband, married 
John R. Wiles, farmer. Canton town- 
ship. Wayne county. Three children 
—(3) Lynn Wiles married Emma 
Shook, no children. (4) Dore Wiles, 
died young. (5) Sarah Wiles, married 
Robert Fendick, farmer. Canton 
township. Wa\Tie county, no children. 
(3.i Catherine Knaggs married 
Charles Bishop, physician, Kalamazoo 




JAMES KNAGGS, 

?on of James Knaggs, the Indian fighter, 

and grandson of George Knaggs ist. 

city. Two children: (1) Charles Bish- 
op, gold miner, Montana, married 
there and has one living child. (2) Far- 
go Bishop, unmarried, now a sol- 
dier in the Philippines. Dr. Charles 
Bishop died, and Catherine married 
Rev. Mr. Swartz, Chicago, who also 
died. She now lives in Chicago. 

(4.) Matilda Knaggs married Will- 
iam Monroe, farmer and brick mason. 
Canton tov^nship, Wayne county. He 
died about 1890. Four children: (1) 
Adelbert Monroe, Aberdeen, Wash. ; 
(2) Ella Monroe, school teacher. De- 
troit, unmarried; (3) John Monroe, 
machinist, Detroit, married Mary 
Turk. Three ohidlren— Grace Ludle 
Monroe, Eleanor Maud Monroe and 
Harold Don Monroe. (4) William Mon- 
roe, carciage maker, Wayne. Mich., 
married Alta Felt. Three children- 
Ray Monroe, Helen Monroe and Maud 
Monroe. 

(5.) Thomas Knaggs, twin brother 
of Matilda Knaggs, died in infancy. 

(6) Benjamin Franklin Knaggs, farm, 
er, Exeter township. Monroe county, 
married Eva Jackson. Five children— 
(1) Clark B. Knaggs, soldier in Co. E, 
Nineteenth United States regiment. In 
the Philippines. (2) Alice Knaggs, 
married Burt W. Palmer, millwright, 
London township. Mr. Palmer remov- 
ed with his family to Arkansas and 
died there. The widow returned to 
her parents' home In Exeter township. 
Two children. Fay Everett Palmer 
and Burt W. Palmer. (3) Mabel 
Knaggs. (1) Maud Knaggs and (5) 



42 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Pearl Knaggs. The three daughters 
last named live with their parents. 

(7) Minerva Knagg3 married Albert 
Wetherbee. shoemaker. Tpsilanti. She 
died about 1SS9. Two children— (1) 
Alice Wetherbee married Arthur 
Willclnson, teacher in western high 
school. Detroit; one child— Lucille 
Wilkinson, who died, aged 14 years. 
(2) Minnie Wetherbee married Wes- 
ley Ward, railroad conductor. Detroit; 
four children— Rhea Ward, Wesley 
Ward. Arthur Ward and Leila Ward. 

(S) James Henry Knaggs. farmer. 
Canton township. Wayne county, mar- 
ried Inez Duntley. Pour children, who 
are all unmarriedt and live with their 
parents— Oscar J. Knaggs, Minnie M. 
Knaggs, Hazel M. Knaggs and Clarissa 
E. Knaggs. 

(9) George Wesley Knaggs, lumber- 
man, when last heard of was in Min- 
nesota; unmarried, 

(10) Georgiana Knaggs, twin sister 
of George Wesley, married Homer 
Rowley, farmer, and lives In Ross. 
Tex. Four living children— Albert 
Rowley. Clara Rowley. Francis Row- 
ley and Wesley Rowley. 



Paget. (2) Alice Palmer married Dee 
Newton, faxmer. Canton township, six 
children— Henry Newton, Arnold 
Newton. Sybil Newton. Agnes New- 
ton, a boy not named, who died, and 
a girl baby. (3) Mary Palmer married 
Albert Newton, Hve children— Owen 
Newton died young; Hazen Newton. 
Alger Newton. Mildred Newton and 
Baby Newton. (4) Frank Palmer, 
farmer. Plymouth township, married 



Jemima Knaggs, 

Jemima Knagg.«, daughter of James 
Knaggs, and granddaughter of George 
Knaggs, 1st, was born on Aug. 26, 1811. 
on her father's farm, near Raisin, sev- 
en and a half miles above Monroe. She 
was married three times. Her first 
husband was William Street, farmer, 
of Raisinville. Monroe county, by 
whom she had one son. Job Street, 
of Caro, Mich. Job Street marrie.i 
Isabel Brown, oC Monroe, and they 
hnd one child, Willie Frank Street, 
bank cashier, St. Louis, Mo. Je- 
mima Knaggs's second hu.«:band was 
John Pegler. farmer, Raisinville town- 
ship; no children. Her third husband 
was Joseph G. Navarre, farmer, of 
Monroe, whose farm was Just outside 
the southern limits of that city. No 
children. She died at the residence 
of her brother. George Knaggs, in 
Raisinville township. Monroe county 
Mich., on Feb. 27, ISSIS, in her 75th year.' 

Eliza Knngrera. 

Eliza Knaggs, daughter ot James 
Knaggs. and granddaughter of George 
Knaggs. 1st., was born on her father's 
farm, in Raisinville township Mon- 
roe county, on July 8. 1S14. She mar- 
nod Aaron B. Palmer, farmer. Canton 
township, Wayne county, who was 
born in 1S1.3. He died Dec. 12, 1882, 
and she died on March 27, 1878. They 
had nine children, as follows: 

(1) Mary Palmer married 'william 
Suggltt, farmer. Canton township 
Wayne county. She died In 1867; her 
husband still survives, and has mar- 
ried again. Three children, of whom 
Annie Suggitt, wife of M. Smith, and 
Allda Suggitt, wife of Hugh Kerns, 
survive. 

(2) George W. Palmer, farmer. Canton 
township. Wayne county. married 
Maria Suggitt. Seven children— (1) 
Sarah Palmer, married George Paget, 
farmer. Canton township, Wayne 
L-ounty, six children — Rouloph Paget. 
Frank Paget. Susan Paget, Elizabeth 
Paget, Emma Paget and Clarence 




ELIZA KNAGGS, 
Wife of Aaron B. Palmer, daughter of 
James Knaggs. the Indian fighter, grand- 
daugliter of George Knaggs 1st. 

Caroline Francisco, two children- 
Floyd Palmer and Mariah Palmer. 
(5) Estelle Palmer, unmarried. (6) 
Frederick Palmer married Odella 
Kraus, one child— Herbert Palmer, 
died In infancy. (7) Florence Palmer, 
unmarried. 

(3) Emily Palmer was accidentally 
burned and died ot her injuries at 5 
years of age. 

(4) James K. Palmer, farmer, London 
township. Monroe county, married 
Nancv Lampkin, four children — Aaron 
Charles Palmer, farmer. Sand Point. 
Idaho, unmarried; William Palmer, 
farmer, Exeter township. Monroe 
county, married Myrtle Blouch; two 
children— Muriel Palmer and Leola 
Palmer. Minnie Palmer married 
Ell Collins, farmer, Exeter town- 
ship. Monroe county; four children^ 
Neafie Collins. James Collins, Hattle 
Collins, and Trynche Collins. Goldie 
Palmer, unmarried, school teacher, 
lives with her father. 

(5) Maria Palmer married EILslui 
Kelly, farmer, Plymouth townshiii. 
Wayne county. .She died in 18S0. One 
chila, Albert Kelly, musician, K.ala- 
m^zoo, who married Mrs. Sarah 
Palmer, and has one child. Roy Kelly. 

(6) Jeremiah Palmer, twin brother of 
Maria. farmer, Sumter township, 
Wayne county, married twice. His 
first wife was Alice Beaman. Three 
chil'iren— (1) Nellie Ida Palmer, school 
teacher. Wayne county. (2) C. Eliza- 
beth Palmer, married Ernest C. Veal- 
cy. farmer, Romulus township. Sept. 
25, 1897. and died Dec, 18, 1S99— one 
child. Richard B. Vealey. born July 
28. 1S9S. lives with his father 
in Romulus township. (3) Myrtle 



Jean Palmer lives at Wayne, His sec- 
ond wife was Catherine Mory. Six 
children — Archibald Palmer, Lewis 
Palmer, George Palmer, Eliza Palmer. 
Two other children. Ann Palmer and 
Aaron Palmer, died in infancy, 

(7) Aaron B, Palmer ("Joppa"), 
farmer. Canton township, Wayne 
county, married Sarah Conkling. No 
children. Aaron died in 1889. 

(Si Eliza Palmer married Thomas 
Hanning. clerk for Gregory. Mayer & 
Thom Co.. Detroit. Nine living chil- 
dren. (1) Thomas William Hanning. 
teamster. Detroit, married Johanna 
Whittenburg. two children. Pern Han- 
ning and Aaron Hanning, (2) George A. 
Hanning, laundryman, tietrolt, un- 
married. (3) Maude Isabella Han- 
ning, married P, C, McGloin, fireman, 
Detroit; one child, Grace McGloin. 
(J) Edith Agnes Hanning. married M. 
J. McAlpine. sailor, Detroit, two chil- 
dren, Gertrude Helen McAlpine and 
Marion Edith McAlpine. (5) Grace 
Jemima Hanning. Detroit, unmarried, 
(B) Harry Palmer Hanning, Detroit, 
schoolboy. (7) Auetln Marvin Han 
nlng, Detroit, schoolboy. (S) Sarah 
Cornelia Hanning, Detroit, school- 
girl, (9) Payson Hutchins Hanning, 
Detroit, schoolboy. 

(9) Jemima Palmer, married Austin 
Kanouse, farmer, of Superior town- 
ship, Washtenaw county. No chil- 
dren. 

Jobnson lCnagg;s. 

Jolinson Knaggs, son of James 
Knaggs, and grandson of George 
Knaggs, 1st. was born In Raisinvillo 
tov.-nship. on 'his father's farm, in 1816. 




JOHNSON KNAGGS, 

Son of James Knaggs. the Indian fighter, 

grandson ot George Knaggs 1st. 

The farm is situated on the River 
Raisin, seven miles west of the city ot 
Monroe, A number of Indians lived 
in that region, and when a boy he 
played with their children, and learned 
to speak their language. He was fair- 
ly well educated for those d,ays. and 
always lived and worked on the farm, 
lie was one of the first to make lime 
in Monroe county, and furnished it in 
large quantities to the builders of 



JAMES KKAGGS and HIS DESCENDANTS. 



43 



Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor and other cities. 
In his later years he attended hl3 
farm exclusively. a.nd accumulated a 
handsome competence H" was a. 
cheerful, clean-cut gentleman, with a 
.sunny disposition, always looked on 
the bright side o£ things, and was cap- 
able and clear-headed to the end of 
his eighty-fourth year. 

He was christened Johnson, but was 
always known as John Knaggs, and 







IH^^ ^ ^ 




Sp^t 






"> < 


I^^HH^^^^^ 


^^ 




Hi 



MBS. MAT STOCKING KNAGGS, 
Wife of John Wesley Knaggs. son of John- 
.son Knaggs, grandson of James Knaggs, 
the Indian lighter, great grandson of 
George Knaggs 1st. 

outside of hda family might not be 
recognized as Johnson. He was named 
after Richard M. Johnson, the reputed 
slayer of Tecumseh, who was vice- 
president of the United States under 
Martin Van Buren. and colonel of a 
regiment In which his father served 
In the war of 1S12, at the battle of the 
Thames. There was a warm friendship 
between MaJ. James Knaggs and 
Col. Johnson. 

Johnson Knaggs married Sarah 
Louisa Woods, of Rushford. Allegheny 
county, N. Y., in 1S3S. His wife. It Is 
said, was visiting relatives in Monroe 
county when they became firsjt ac- 
quainted. She died In 1SS9, and he fol- 
lowed her to the grave In 1900. 

They had 10 children, as foaiows: 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 
(1.) John Weeley Knaggs, born ii. 
1S39. is now (June. 1902) the oldest liv- 
ing son of Johnson Ki.aggs, and the 
oldest living grandson of James 
Knaggs, the Indian fighter. He was 
a graduate of Albion college, 
Albion, Mich,, and was among 
the first to enlist in the war of the 
rebellion. He refused a commission 
in Co. A, Fourth Michigan Infantry; 
was wounded at Malvern hill, where 
he lost his left arm and was taken 
prisoner the same day. Confined in 
Libby prison one month, and was then 
exchanged. He was one of a company 
of six capitalists who started the first 
beet sugar factory at Bay City, of 
which place he has been a resident 
since 1866. He Is in the fire Insurance 
business. He married in 1869, Miss May 



St.->cklng. of Spring Lake. N. T. His 
wife is at present one of the guar- 
dians of the Miohigan Industrial 
Home for Girls at Adrian, and ex-pres- 
Ident of the State Equal Suftraee as- 
sociation. They have four children- 
Walter Wesley Knaggs. Detroit, trav- 
eling agent of National Cycle Manu- 
facturing Co.: Roy Stocking Knaggs. 
stationer and printer. New York city: 
Dimles Camilla Knaggs, married 
to Dr. Henry Etherington Mc- 
Lennan, of Bay Mills. Mich.: Mary 
Slocking Knaggs. unmarried. 

(2.) Lucia Cornelia Knaggs was a 
student of the State Normal school of 
Ypsilanti. and was a successful teach- 
'T for four years in the schools of 
Monroe. Wayne and Washtenaw coun- 
ties-. She married George Younglove. 
farmer. Raisinville township Seven 
children: (1) Grace Lounglove mar- 
ried Wrn. Bradford, commercial agent- 
one son. Russell Bradford. They live 
in Cincinnati. O.: (2) Lee Younglove; 
(■3) Tracy J. Younglove; (4) Stacey T 
Younglove; (5) Bernardean Younglove 
married Robert Herkimer, farmer Ex- 
eter township, Monroe countv (6) 
Pearl Younglove. died in infancy- (7) 
V>'ilber Younglove. farmer. Mrs Lucia 
Knaggs died on Feb. IS. 1901. 

(.1) Daniel Asbury Knaggs enlisted 
In the IMh Michigan Infantrv and was 
with Sherman in the famous "march 
to the sea;- was a butcher and stock 
buyer for 27 years, now a veterinary 
surgeon and farmer, an3 resides m 
Maybce village, Monro^ county. He la 
a genial citizen, with many friends 
and has held township offices for sev- 
eral years. He married Low'.sa Walte 
who has since died, p^ur children- 
Sarah Adeline Knaggs. Blanche 
Agatha Knaggs, Daniel Knaggs and 
Carl Knaggs. The last named died 
young. 

(4.) Myra Ann Knaggs Inherited a 
farm in Grape. Monroe county, from 
her father, and never married. She 
lives with her brother, Bryant Elliott 
Knaggs. who owns an adjoining farm. 
These farms are said to be the finest 
In that section of the country. 

(5.) Freedom W. Knaggs was a stu- 
dent at the State Norma, scnool at 
Ypsilanti. He was a lumber inspector 
for 14 years, and is now a farmer in 
Schofleld township. Monroe county. He 
married Belle Grace Croable of Bay 
City, on July 6. 1S81. Five children- 
Nathan Knaggs, Earl Knaggs. Hazel 
Knaggs, William Wesley Knaggs and 
Dorcas Belle Knaggs. 

(6) Milton Woods Knaggs. a prom- 
ising young man. and a machinist by 
trade, died unmarried at Bay City, on 
Dec. 5, 1S79. aged 24 years. 

(7.) Winfield S. Knaggs died in in- 
fancy on Sept. 29, 1855. 

(8.) Caroline Louisa Knaggs. a 
bright, pretty girl, died on Nov. 19, 
1865, aged 14 years 

(9) Sarah Adella Knaggs died on 
Dec. 5, 1865, aged 5 year«. 

(10.) Bryant Elliott Knaggs, farmer, 
married Nellie Davis in 1SS8. They were 
divorced in 1890. Their only child, Myr- 
na Knaggs. lives with her mother. 
Bryant, who is a successful farmer, 
and trusty gentleman, lives at the 
parental homestead at Grape, Raisin- 
ville township, Monroe county. 



Rebecca Knagrss. 

Rebecca Knaggs. daughter of James 
Knaggs and Pelagic Roberts, and 
granddaughter of George Knaggs 1st, 
was born on her father's farm, on 
the River Raisin, on April 10. 1818. aijd 
was married at her father's house to 
Reuben H. Rogers, farmer, on June 
9. 1829. 

They removed to Dundee. Mich., and 



S'^- 1 






^'^fej':^'- 




BEBECCA KNAGGS, 
Wife of Reuben H. Rogers, daughter of 
James Knaggs. the Indian fighter, grand- 
daughter of George Knaggs 1st. 

resided on a 40-acre farm near that 
village, which had been given to her 
by her father. Mr. Rogers was fairly 
well educated for those days, when 
schools were scarce. She could con- 
verse in English, French and Indian 
languages, and her memory of events 
was excellent up to her last days. She 
was a pious and careful mother, e%'er 
solicitous for the comfort and Interests 
of her children, and was very charita- 
ble, never turning the weary and hun- 
gry from her door. Her husband was 
a carpenter and joiner by trade, and 
was afterward a farmer. He died on 
May 24. 1894. Rebecca died on Feb. 8, 
1896. They had six children, as fol- 
lows: 

(1.) The first child was a daughter, 
who died in infancy. 

(2.) Lorenzo S. Rogers was born In 
Dundee township, Monroe county. In 
1841. He followed the business of 
optician, and was a soldier In the war 
of the rebellion, serving In Co. E. Two 
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
Infantry. He married Salvira J. Frost, 
of Hudson, Mich., on Sept. 10, 1879, and 
died on March 7, 190i). No children. 

(3) Adaline S. Rogers married Rev. 
Edward Matthews, of England, on 
Dec. 15, 1870. He is a free methodist 
clergyman, and is now engaged in mis- 
sion work in Nebraska. Three chil- 
dren— (1) Bertha Matthews, teacher 
In one of Chicago's high schools. (2) 
Maybell Matthews, married John Wat- 
son, machinist. Benton Harbor, Mich., 
on June 1, 1899. One child— Maybell 
Watson. (3) Edward L. Matthews, un- 
married, attending scnooi in Chicago. 

(4.) Emellne 3. Rogers married 



44 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Clark Jones, teacher, on Jan. 1, lS7:i. 
She died at Union City, Mich., March 
15, 1S79. Three children: (1) Lenna 
Jones, hospital nurse, Chicago; un- 
married. (2) Loren Jones, attending 
school at Ann Arbor. Mich. (3) Olive 
Jones, attending school at Beloit, 
Wig. 

(5.) Edwin A. Rogers. Dundee, farm- 
er and proprietor ol a noted collie 
kennel; married Carrey C. Clark. o£ 
Raisinville. Four children: (1) Bur- 
ton Rogers, graduate of Dundee high 
school. (2) Belle Rogers. (3) Hazel 
Rogers, and (4) Harry Rogers, at- 
tending school at Dundee. Hazel and 
Harry are twins. 

(6.) Ruth M. Rogers married Wel- 
lington Postal, of Bay City, on July 
S, 1878. Five chilurcn: (1) V.'ill T. 
Postal, clerk and telephone operator 
in Co. J, Eighth United States infan- 
try, now in the Philippines. (2) Fred 
V. Postal, United States revenue 
steamer Wabash, now at navy yard, 
Boston, Mass. (3) Frank F. Postal, 
(4) Gyy E. Postal and (D) Hazel D. 
Postal live at their home in Dundee. 



Mary Caroline Kiiaggs. 

Mary Caroline Knaggs, daughter of 
James Knaggs, the Indian fighter, and 
granddaughter of George Knaggs 1st, 
was born on her father's fai'm on the 
River Raisin in 1S19. In 1&37 she married 
Seralpha Buck, and removed with him 
to what was then the wilds of Alle- 
gan county, Michigan. They were 
among the first pioneers of Hopkins 
township in that county. They lived 
there until their seven children grew 
up, and then removed to James town- 
ship, Kent county. Mich. Mr. Buck 
was first a methodist minister, and 
afterward was a united brethren cler- 
gyman. She died in April, 1S78, and 
he departed in February, 1S96. They 
are both buried at Gaines. 

HER DESCENDANTS. 

(1) George W. Buck at last accounts 
was keeping a hotel at a summer re- 
sort in Wisconsin. He married Al- 
mena Norton. Three living children— 
Payette Buck. Roy Buck and Nina 
Buck. 

(2) Mary Elizabeth Buck married 
Benjamin Franklin, farmer, of Hop- 
kins, Allegan county, Mich., who died 
In 1SS3. One living child— Mrs. Flor- 
ence Sessions, Bradley, Mich. After 
Mr. Franklin's death she married Hen- 
ry Toonder, and they live on a tarm 
near Manton, Mich, ino children. 

(3) David Seeley Buck of Le Ponto, 
Ark., has been twice marked. His 
first wife was Hattie Richmond of 
Hopkins, Allegan county, Mich., who 
bore him six children, as follow«— Wil- 
lie Buck, Daisy Buck, L,liile Buck, 
Frank Buck, Fred Buck and Hattie 
Buck. The addresses of tne two last 
named are, Fred Buck. Muskegon, and 
Mrs. Hattie Bancroft. Alto, Mich. 

(4) Abel Buck is in the lumbering 
business at Snohomish, Wash. He mar- 
ried Adeline Ritchie, and has five chil- 
dren—Ulysses Buck, Alpheus Buck, Al- 
mond Buck, Wallace Buck and Mary 
Buck. 

(5) Harriet Buck married George 
Noggle, farmer, Tustin, Mich., and has 
four daughters— Mrs. Ethel Noggle 



Dean, Springvale, Mich.; Ellen A. 
Noggle and Lois E. Noggle, Tustin, 
Midi. 

(6) Esther Ann Buck married George 
Bowles. Two children— (1) Jessie May 
Bowles, who married Harley Griffin 
of Elm Hall, Mich., and died, leaving 
two boys— Merle Griffin, aged 7, and 
Jessie Griffin, aged 10 years. t2)Ver- 
non L. Bowles lives with his mothei 
at Wyandotte. Mich., where she now 
manages a prosperous photograph 
business, 

(7) E. Willis Buck has been mar- 
ried three times. By his first wife 
Mary Datimer, he had two children — 
(1) Cora Buck married Ephraim Lutz 
farmer, Middleville, Mich., and has 
tv/o children— Vera Lutz and Earl 
Lutz. (2) Mary Buck died when two 
years old. E. Willis Buck's .second 
wife was Ida Peck, by whom ho had 
two children— (3) Rena Belle Buck, and 
(4) Forrest Buck. His third wife Is 
Sarah Bowen. He is now egaged in 
the lumbering business at Alberta 
Northwestern Canada. 



Robert \V. ICnnggs. 

Robert W. Knaggs, son of James 
Knaggs, the Indian fighter, and grand- 
son of George Knaggs, 1st, was born 
in Raisinville township on his father's 
farm, on Feb. 22, 1S22. The farm is sit- 
uated on the River Rai-sin, about seven 
miles above the city of Monroe. The 
only neighbors of the family in the 




H 




ROBERT W. KNAGGS, 

Son of James Kn.^ggs, the Indian flgliter, 

grandson of George Knaggs 1st. 

'20s were French and Indians, and 
when Robert was 12 years of age he 
could speak but very little English, 
but conversed readily in the French 
and Indian languages. He received a 
fair education for those days, and 
lived on his father's farm until he was 
20 years of age. He then went to 
school at Bath. Steuben county, N. Y.. 
where he remained one year. There he 
met his fate in the person of Eliza 
Ann Buck, of that place, to wnora he 
was married on May 2S, 1S43. 
He brought his bride by boat to the 



city of Monroe 11 days later, and there 
started a meat market, and continued 
in that business for 16 years. In 1S54 
he removed to his father's second 
farrii. which was located one mile east 
of the city of Monroe, where he lived 
with his father in his old age. Aftc- 



^ 




MRS. ROBERT W. KNAGGS. 
(Formerly Harriet R. Cone ) 

his father died, in 1860, he removed to 
Toledo, O., where he lived two years; 
then to Raisinville township, Monroe 
county, for a year, and afterward set- 
tled at Traverse City, on May 10. 1S67. 
There he was employed by the Han- 
nah-Lay Co., lumbermen, for eight 
years. His last location was at Wal- 
ton, in Grand Traverse county, where 
he started a hotel. He continued In 
the business tor 16 years, and up to 
the time of his death on June 5. 1891, 
aged 69 years, 3 months and 14 days. 
He was married three times, his first 
wife, as before stated, being Eliza 
Ann Buck, who died at Monroe on 
March 13. 1848, aged nearly 20 years. 
His second wife was Lasira A. Howe, 
of Monroe city, whom he married on 
Feb. 3, 1S49. She died on Feb. 4, 1854, 
aged 21 years. His third wife was 
Harriet R. Cone, of Monroe city, whom 
ho married on Nov. 22, 1S54. He 
was the father of 8 children. 25 grand- 
children and 2 great-grandchildren. 
Mrs. Harriet R. Knaggs died on March 
2, 1902. 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

(1) Charles Knaggs, born in 1845, son 
of his first wife, Eliza Ann Buck; died 
on the same day as his mother, on 
March, 13, 184S, aged 2V4 years. 

(2) Charles W. Knaggs, son of sec- 
ond wife, Larlsa A. Howe, born at 
Monroe city Jan. 5, 1850. Married Sar- 
ah Violette Sea. of Traverse City, 
Mich. One son died at birth, in 1876. 
Charles W. Knaggs died at Walton, 
Mich., aged 27 years. 

(3) Nellie L. Knaggs, daughter of 
second wife, Lasira A. Howe, born 
Dec. 1, 1851, in Toledo. Married George 
A. Lancaster, carpenter, of Traverse 
City. Ten children: (1) Glen Arlo 



JAMES KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Lancaster, carpenter. Mancelona. 
Mich.; married Minnie Rhewald. of Al- 
den. Mich.; one daughter, aged 1 year. 

(2) Charles M. Lancaster, DOstofflce 
clerk. Traverse City; married Mamie 
Oviatte, of Traverse City; no children. 

(3) Walter Laverne Lancaster, 

(4) Robert Harry Lancaster, died 
aged 2 years. (5) Myrtle Alta 
Lancaster. (6) One daughter died in 
Infancy. (7) Clarabelle Lancaster. (8) 
Willis Perry Lancaster. (9) George 
Henry Lancaster. (10) Joseph Aaron 
Lancaster, all of Traverse Cit". Mich. 

His children by his third wife. Har- 
riet R. Cone, are as follows: 

(4) Emm.a J. Knaggs, born March 
21. ISr.G, at Monroe City. Married Geo. 
Simpson, blacksmith, of Traverse City; 
moved on a farm six miles south of 
Traverse City, where he died on Dec. 
20. 1S98. Five children: (1) Hattie H. 
Simpson, born Dec. 13. 1S74: married 
Joseph Tomlinson, telegraph operator, 
of Leroy, Mich., now living at Petos- 
key, Mich.; one child, Leslie A. Tom- 
linson. (2) William H. Simpson, born 
1S76, died Nov. 16. 1S81. aged nearly 5 
years. (3) Arthur A. Simpson, farmer, 
born April 9, 1878; unmarried; lives 
with his mother. (4) A son. born in 
1S.S1, died in infancy. (5) Carrie M. 
Simpson, born in 1SS3, died in infancy. 

(5) Alia Robert Knagg.?, marine en- 
gineer, born March 22. 1SS8. at Monroe 



city; married twice. His first wife was 
Jennie Fish, of Traverse City, whom 
he married in 1877. She died in 1883. 
Two childrer.; (1) Wm. R. Knaggs, 
machinist, born Feb. 22, 1S7S, at 
Walton; died unmarried Aug. 26, 
1S99, at Chicago, aged 1:1 years. (2) 
Mabel Knaggs, born Feb. 14. 1880; mar- 
ried William Muldoon. macninist. Chi- 
cago—one child, a daughter, born Oct. 
IS. 19U1, died next day. Alia Robert 
Knaggs's second wife was Mary L. 
Christopher, of Old Ml.ss:on. Grand 
Traverse county, Mich.; no children. 
They lived in Chicago, where his avo- 
cation called him, until his health 
failed, and he with bus wife now live 
at Walton, Mich. 

(6) Hattie Mary Knaggs, born at 
Monroe city. July 13, 1861; married 
twice. Her first husband was James 
Kennedy, to whom she was married 
on Jan. 20, 1878. Three children: The 
first was a son, and the second a 
daughter, who both died in infancy. 
The third. Myrtle May Kennedy, was 
born March 29. 1S85, at Walton. Mich. 
Divorced from her first husband in 1871, 
Hatt.e Mary Knaggs married Garrie 
Bodine, of St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 22, 
1891; no children. She now lives at 
Shreveport, La., where she carries on 
the business of dressmaking. Her hus- 
band is a contractor and builder. 

(7) Willis Bradley Knaggs, born 
June 28, 1863. at Monroe city; married 



Carrie Holbrook, of Bronson. Mich., 
on July 4, 1883. Four children: (1) 
Lloyd Knaggs, born March 24, 1885. (2) 
Murell Knaggs, born in November, 
1887. (3) Vera Knagg.?, born in Feb- 
ruary, 1S93. (4) A daughter, born Oct. 
20, 1901. Willis Bradley Knaggs was a 
conductor on the Grand Rapids & In- 
diana railroad for a number of years. 
He retired a few years ago. and lives 
on his farm, eight miles south of Tra- 
verse City. 

(8) Perry Newton Knaggs. born May 
5, 1865, at Toledo; married Jennie C. 
Ricklty, of South Haven. Mich., Oct. 
1, 1SS7. One son. Perry Rickley Knaggs. 
born Sept. 15, 1S94. He has been chief 
engineer of the Williams Transporta- 
lion Co. for the past 10 years, and 
lives at South Haven. The company 
n centiy purchased the steamer Eas- 
ton, at Baltimore. Md., and Perry 
Knaggs, as engineer, took charge of 
her, and she was brought via ihe St. 
L:t>\-rence river, canals and lakcsi to 
Milwaukee. 



Wliitsiiore ivlias'gs. 

Whitmore Knaggs. youngest son of 
James Knaggs. and grandson of Geo. 
Knaggs l;5t. was born in Raisinvilie 
township, on his father's farm, in 
1S24, and died in 1S2G. aged about i'/j 
years. 



THOMAS KNAGQS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



Thomas Knaggs. son of George 
Knaggs. 1st, and brother of James and 
Whitmore Knaggs. was probably born 
on the Maumee river, above Toledo, 
and was baptized in 17S2 at Sandwich, 
In L' Assumption church, opposite De- 
troit. He was a strongly built man 
and was an Indian trader. Like every- 
one who successfully followed that vo- 
cation he was popular with the red 
men, and could speak several of their 
tribal tongues. He married Catherine 
I'dUgot, who was a native of As- 
sumption parish, in the catholic church 
at Sandwich. At that time he was al- 
ready a land owner. On June 
2, 1790, when he was only 14 
years of age, he was grant- 
ed by the Pottowotamie Indians a 
tract of land which, according to the 
wording of the deed, fronted three ar- 
pents on the River Raisin, several 
miles above Monroe. The location was 
described to be "on the lower side ol 
the river, adjoining land owned by 
Whitmore Knaggs (his brother) and on 
the upper side by lands not yet grant- 
ed." It Is more than probable that 
the grant was given by the tribe by 
the influence of his brother. Whitmore. 
At the death of his mother, in 1S15. he 
inherited another farm. It fronted 
three arpents on the River Raisin, and 
adjoined a farm of the same size be- 
queathed to his younger brother Will- 
lam. 

A SOLDIER OP 1812. 

Thomas was a lieutenant of a com- 
pany in the Second regiment of Mich- 
igan militia, which was raised in ISO.i 
by order of Gov. Hull. The regiment, 
which was raised In the southern part 
of the territory, was commanded by 
his sister's husband. Col. John Ander- 
son of Monroe. His brother, James 
Knaggs, afterward a noted Indian 
fighter, scout and spy on the Amer- 
ican side, was an ensign in the same 
regiment. His elder brother. Whit- 
more Knaggs, was a lieutenant, after- 
ward captain in the First regiment. 
Lossing, the historian, in the "Pic- 
torial Field Book of the War of 1S12," 
tells of an interview with James 
Knaggs, the youngest of the family, 
and says of him that "he was the 
youngest of five brothers, all of whom 
were active in military service." But 
there are no particulars obtainable of 
Thomas's military service, except that 
he was a spy with Capt. Wells, who 
was killed at the Chicago massacre 
on Aug. 15, 1812. 

HIS DESCENDANTS. 

Thomas Knaggs and Catherine Pou- 
get had at least six children. Thomas 
died about 1S31, and his wife in 1S46 or 
1S47, at Monroe. She is burled in the 
catholic cemetery on Anderson street 



in that city. The six children were 
Rachel, Thoma.s, Susan, Elizabeth 
Nancy and David. 



Haclicl Knngj^s. 

(1) Rachel Knaggs married Thomas 
Digue (pronounced Decay), parochial 
school teacher, who was the first 
teacher of St. Mary's church school 
in Monroe. He died in ISiS. :ind sin 



ginia Bondy. Sept. 29, 1SS5, at South 
Roekwood, Mich. No children. Zella 
Metty, married Moses Campau. June 
?8, 1SS5, at Soulh Roekwood, Mich. 
.Seven children — Lester Campau, 13; 
Agnes Camp.au, 11; Aschcr Camp.au, D; 
Frank Campau. 7; Harvey Campau. 5; 
Marie Campau, 3, and Mary ID. Cam- 
pau, 1. Serena Metty married Daniel 
Roberts, Nov. 24. ISOl, at River Rouge 
\ill i^''\ Mich. Three children— I'"rank 




RACHEL KNAGGS AND HER SECOND HUSHAND, KICHAKD METTY. 
Rachel was the daughter of Thomas Knaggs and granddaughter of Geo. Knaggs 1st. 



afterward married Richard Metty, 
farmer, Sandy Creek, Monroe county 
She died in ISIXI, aged SO years. There 
were no children by the second mar- 
riage. The children of Rachel Knaggs 
and Thomas Digue were (1) Thomas 
A. Digue, retired school teacher, 
who li\'es at Monroe. Thomas 
A. Digue married Mary Gereu, 
and has four living children, all mar- 
ried, named respectively Rachael 
Digue, wife of Peter Manor, farmer, 
Erie township; Josephine Digue, wife 
of Adolphus Grodie, farmer, 10 miles 
north of Toledo; Selima Digue, wife 
of John Mominee, farmer, Erie town- 
.ship; Thomas C. Digue, street car con- 
ductor. Toledo. (2) Phillis Digue, mar- 
ried Frank Metty, lives at River 
Rouge. Four children: Joseph T. Met- 
ty, River Rouge village, married Vir- 

(46) 



Roberts. 8; Leo Roberts, 6. and Luclle 
Roberts, 1. Philip P. Metty married 
Libbie Vermette, of South Roekwood. 
June 12, 1S92. Four children— Viola 
Metty, 7; Earl Metty, 6; Daisy Metty, 
3, and Ernest Metty. The last 
named died on Sept. 22, 

1901, aged II months. (3) Noah Digue, 
farmer. South Roekwood, married 
Mary Bondy. of the same place. Six 
children— Susan Digue. Emma Digue, 
Josephine Digue, Peter Digue, Libbie 
Digue and John Digue. Susan mar- 
ried Frank Lorrie. farmer. Emma 
married John Van Vosanova, farmer. 
Josephine. now deceased, mar- 
ried John Beaudry. Peter mar- 
ried Louise Labo. Libbie died un- 
married. John Is unmarried. (4) 
Jose<ph Digue died unmarried In 
1S(!4, aged 22 years. (5) David A. Digue, 



THOMAS KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



47 



the youngest child, was born in 1S17, 
married Mary Labeau, and lives at 
Rockwcod, Monroe county, 10 chil- 
dren, four giris and six boys; three of 
the girls married. 



Tboiiias Ivnaggs, 

(2) Thomas Knaggs married an Irish 
girl named Margaret Wall, daughter of 
Joseph Wall and Pauline Bissonct. 
Shortly after the marriage he left 
Monroe and never returned. His where- 
abouts Is not known, and he is now 
probably dead. No children. 



Blizabeth Knages, 

(3) Elizabeth Knaggs married Joseph 
Marontate, farmer. South Colchester 
township, Essex county, Ont., but 
tbcy removed about 40 years ago to 
Maiden township, about eight miles 
southeast of Amherstburg. She died 
In February, 1884, and he died in June, 
1885. They had two children. Thomas 
and Elizabeth Marontate. (1) Thomas 
Marontate. farmer, who inherited his 
father's farm, married Olive Deneau 
of Maiden township. Nine children, 
four boys and five girls, as follows: 
Mary Marontate, married Thomas 
Beaudoin, sailor, no children. Nor- 
man Marontate died unmarried in 1S95, 
when he was about 28 years old. John 
Marontate lives on the farm, unmar- 
ried. Amelia Marontate married Thos. 
Bondy, farmer. South Colchester town- 
ship, Ont., two children— one died In 
Infancy, the other, a girl, lives with 
her parents. Thomas E. Marontate. 
merchant. Amherstburg. Ont., married 
Margaret Lawlor of Amherstburg; no 
children. Alzora Marontate died un- 
married in 1894, aged 19. Alma Maron- 
tate died unmarried in 18S0. aged about 
11. Lena Marontate lives with her 
parents. Roy Marontate lives at home. 
Thomas Marontate died about 1879, 
and his widow lives on the farm with 
■her children— John, Lena and Roy. (2) 
Eliza Marontate. daughter of Eliza- 
beth Knaggs and Joseph Marontate, 
married James Bratt. farmer. South 
Colchester township, and afterward a 
hotulkeeper in Harrow, same town- 
ship. Nine children, all married, ex- 
cept a boy and a girl, as follows: 
William Joseph Bratt. farmer, now in 
Wayne county. N. Y., married Rachel 
Brush on April 6, 1S.S7. Two children- 
William Stephen Bratt and Ruby Ace- 
nath Bratt. who live with their moth- 
er in Maiden township. Thomas Ed- 
mond Bratt. farmer. South Colchester 
township, married Susan Bailey, of 
Maiden township. Three children— 
I^ottie Almire Bratt. died on April 2, 
1894; Leroy Thomas Bratt. died on 
March 11. 1895; Ethel Bratt, lives at 
home. Lucinda Bratt. married Sher- 
man Collison, farmer. Maiden town- 
ship. Five children— Pearl Collison, 
Arthur Collison. Ross Collison, Grace 
Collison and Lina Collison. Nellie 
Matilda Bratt married Ernest Pasto- 
rius, farmer. South Colc'l'iester town- 
ship. One child— Walter Ernest Pasto- 
rius. Edwin James Bratt, foreman 
William Borraman's farm in Mai- 
den township. married Zelah 
Wright. of South Colchester. 

Four children— Ellis EMwin Bratt. 
Earl James Bratt and Ena Bratt. 



Gorden Bratt. died on April 27. 
1895. Judson Albert Bratt. farmer. 
South Colchester township, married 
Jessae Sellars. of Maiden, who died on 
May 27. 1901. Two ohildren— Laura 
and Joseph Bratt. who live with their 
grandparents in Maiden. Ernest Ef- 
fort Bratt, mason, unmarried, lives at 
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Agnes Alma 
Bratt, unmarried, lives with her 
brother Thomas, at East Harrow. Lll- 
la Elizabeth Bratt, married El-son 
Pastorius, farmer. Harrow, South Col- 
chester township. No children. 

SnHan Knagga. 

(4) Susan Knaggs lived In Monroe 
with her mother, and died In 1844. aged 
17. She never married. 



Davlil Knagrss. 

(5) David Knaggs never married, and 
lived in Monroe until about 1896. He 
was a farm hand. He removed to 
Detroit and became an inmtite of the 
Home of the Aged Poor, where he 
died in 1839 In his eightieth year. 



Nancy KnagKS. 

(6) Nancy Knaggs married Joseph 
Graveline, carpent^er, at Amherstliurg, 
and subsequently removed to Detroit. 
From Detroit they went south before 
the war, and when the war commenced 
he joined the rebel army and was a 
scout and spy. They had one child 
named Charles Graveline. The mother 
removed to Centcrville, 111., and mar- 
ried a Mr, Semack. 



John Knn>?g*. 

John Knaggs, son of Thomas 
Knaggs, and grandson of George 
Knaggs 1st, was born in what is 
now Monroe county, in St. Anthony's 
parish, about 1S04. Nothing Is known 
of his early life, except that he came 
to Detroit and cultivated some land 
on part of the Brevoort farm. His 
place was on Fort street west, on 
the River Rouge, and his home stood 
on or near the site of the present 
mansion of Henry Brevoort. on the 
west side of the Rouge. John Knaggs 
was married at St. Anne's church on 
Aug. 23, IS'25. by Fr. Gabriel Richard, 
to Arc'nange Lorin, sometimes spelled 
Lorain, who was the daughter of Jos- 
eph Lorin and Mary D'Agensals. 
When parties are married in the cath- 
olic church the offlciating clergyman 
always asks for and records the 
names of the parents of the groom 
and bride. In this case John Knaggs 
gave the name of his father, but 
probably did not know the name of 
his mother, and her name was not re- 
corded. The witnesses of the mar- 
riage were James Knaggs. J. Bte 
Lorin and Amabile Lorin. Two 
children were born of this marriage, 
and his wife died some time before 
1832. 

John Knaggs then married again, 
his second wife being Felicity Des- 
marchais dit Parisien, idaughter of 
Anthony Desmarchais dit Parisien and 
Helena Marsac. and the ceremony took 
place in Ste. Anne's church, Detroit, 

on March 5, 1832. 



AN INDI.\N TR.\DER. 
Besides being a farmer, he had some 
experience in Indian trading, and ho 
afterward removed to the Chippewa 
reservation, in Shiawassee cotmty. and 
started a store at the same place 
where his cousin. Peter Whitmore 
Knaggs, had previously done business 
for several years. 

The name of the reservation was 
Ke-che-wan-dor-goming (Big Salt 
Lick). His store was on the Shiawassee 
river, in the township of Burns, and 
its location is known to this day as 
Knaggs place. John also built a rude 
bridge over the river near his store, 
and although it has passed away 
many years ago. its successor is still 
known as Knaggs's bridge. 

While John Knaggs kept this store 
there came to the reservation a tribe 
of Pottowatomies to receive their pay 
from the government. One night a 
son of the Pottowatomie chief and 
the son of the chief of the Chippewas, 
fell in love with a handsome young 
Chippewa squaw, and as a result quar- 
reled and fought. The young squaw 
ranto John's house, rapped at the win- 
dow and exclaimed, "They are going 
to kill me!" John arose from his bed. 
let her in and she went to sleep with 
his wife, while he rolled himself In 
a blanket on the floor. In a short time 
another knock came, and he answered 
by asking "What do you want?" 

"I want that squaw," was the reply 
of the Chippewa chief's son. 

"You cannot have her," said John. 

"Then you and me fight tomorrow," 
said the Indian. 

"All right," said John. 

In the morning a ring was formed In 
John's barnyard, and the Indians 
gathered to see the fight. John was 
naturally apprehensive of the result 
as there were only Indians in the 
neighborhood, so he called his hired 
man, gave him two loaded revolvers, 
and said: "Keep your eye peeled, 
and If you see any foul play, shoot." 

He then entered the ring, and his 
bearing was so bright and confident 
that his Indian opponent weakenetL 
He walked up to John and extending 
his rand, said: 

"You are a brave man; let us be 
friends." 

John became quite an influential man 
on the reservation, and at one time 
accompanied a delegation of the tribe 
to Washington, where he acted as 
their Interpreter and counsel in urging 
some claim which they preferred 
against the government. When the 
delegates reached Detroit en route to 
Washington, they were quartered in 
a barn over night, and during John's 
absence some of the members quai 
reled and fought, but John stopped the 
quarrel and restored peace, by tho 
agency of a black snake whip. For 
these and other services, he was grant- 
ed. It is said, a tract of land a mile 
square by Chief Nottaway, or Not- 
way, and Under Chief Gchinessing. of 
the Chippewas. Before his death he 
had a man named Daniel Hubbard ap- 
pointed as guardian of his son James. 
Hubbard. who lived on Woodward 
avenue, in Oakland county, near the 
village of Birmingham, did not, it is 
claimed, keep James informed about 
his inherited land, and when James 



48 



THOMAS KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



found it out in after years he was 
toM th:it his claim had been outlawed 
and lie never succeeded in getting pos 
h"ei'sion. 

In the leminiscences of the late B 
O. Williams, published first on the 
Owosso Weelsly Press, in May, 1S72, 
and afterward in the Michigan Pio- 
neer Collections in the volume for 
Ii77-S, he says: "During the summer 
of 1S35 Mr. Banks Vary. Philip Van 
Atiken and John Knaggs. a half-breed 
of French descent, settled in Shia- 
wassee county, mostly along the 
Grand River road." He also chronicles 
the fact that "Aaron Swain and wife 
came at an early day to Shiawassee 
county, and their daughter, Julia, the 
first white child born in the county, 
was born in 1S33 or 1834." 

HIS CHILDREN. 

John Knaggs died in Shiawassee 
county in IS-tl, and was buried at 
Corunna. His second wife died in 
Detroit on Sept. 22. ISSO, aged 76 years. 
He had six children, as follows: 

(1) John Knaggs, the eldest child by 
by his first wife, was born on the 
farm on Fort street, in Springwelis 
township, on May 26, 1S26. With his 
father, stepmother and the rest ol 
the family, he went to Shiawassee 
county and lived there for several 
years after his father's death. He 



Davis, a school teacher, and brought 
her to Detroit. He managed the store 
until 1S4S, when he contracted the 
gold fever and removed to California. 
He kept a hotel in Sacramento for a 
number of years, and was at one time 
a wealthy man. His one child, a boy, 




I . Lla KACKliT KNAGG.S. 

yon of John Knaggs. grandson ol' Thomas 

Knagfs. great-grandson ot George Knaggs 

then came to Detroit, and started a 
grocery store on the north side of 
Michigan avenue, opposite the present 
site of the city hall, in a frame store, 
which stood in the rear portion of 
the present Majestic building. His 
business prospered, and he went back 
to Shiawassee county, married Mary 




?,u;s. j.\MKS k.\ck;;i' i:x.\ogc:. 

and also his wife, died in that city. 
After these bereavements his good 
fortune forsook him, and he had some 
reverses in business. Ho emigrated 
to Australia and had fair success for 
a while, but finally lost all his wealth. 
He then returned to San Francisco, 
and at last accounts in 1899 was still 
'iving there. 

(2) Thomas Knaggs was born In 
Springwells township on July 15, 1S29, 
and died in infancy. 

By his second wife John Knaggs had 
four children, as follows: 

(3) Isabella Knaggs was born in 
Springwells township on Oct. 6, 1832, 
and lier first name was afterward 
changed to Elizabeth. She never mar- 
ried and lived with her mother until 
she died in Detroit, at 160 Maple street, 
about 1S79. 

(4) Mary Knaggs. twin sister of 
Elizabeth, was born on the same date 
in 1833, and died in the following No- 
vember. 

(5) Helena Knaggs, born on March 
S, 1S34, died young. 

(6) James Kacket Knaggs was born 
on the Indian reservation, and was 
baptized at the Church of the Holy 
Cross, in the Dix settlement, near De- 
troit, on Oct. 11, 1S36. He was a year 
old when he was brought to Detroit 
to be baptized, there being no catholic 
church nearer. He was brought to 
Detroit at the same time that the 
remains of Peter Whitmore Knaggs's 
wife were brought here for burial, 



she having died at John Knaggs's 
trading post and tavern on the Shia- 
wassee river. In youth he was 
adopted by the Chippewas, who gave 
him his middle name, Kacket, and he 
was the first white male child born in 
Shiawassee county. He came to De- 
troit with his mother and sister 
Elizabeth when he was about 5 years 
old, and lived with her until he mar- 
lied his first wife. His first occupa- 
tion was as cabin boy on the steamer 
Red Jacket, Capt. Abbott, which 
plyed between Detroit and Port 
Huron. He was afterward a steward 
on several lake steamers and sailing; 
vessels until 1892. In 1863 he enlisted 
in the Fifteenth Michigan infantry, 
Co. G, under Capt. James Cicotte, and 
was present at the battles of Pitts- 
burg Landing and Corinth, as well as 
in several minor engagements. In 
1892 he relinquished his occupation as 
steward, and took up the occupation 
of house painter, and has also been 
a peddler. His first wife was Mary 
Felter, of Detroit, whom he married in 
1864. She died two years later. In 
1S9S he married his present wife, Mrs. 
Ollie Felter Fisher, a widow, who is 
the sister of his first wife. He never 
had any children, and is now 66 years 
of age. 



^ 









y 



AN OLD SHAVING CUP. 



The above is a 'picture of an old Eng- 
lish gallipot, which once held some 
kind of ointment. It was used by 
Thomas Knaggs, son of Progenitor 
Knaggs, as a shaving cup. It was also 
used for the same purpose by Thomas 
Digue, his son-in-law; then by David 
Knaggs, his son; and is now used by 
Joseph Metty, greait-grandson of 
Thomas Knaggs, who is a constable in 
River Rouge village. On the side of 
the cup is the lettering "Prepared at 
the laboratory of Mander Weaver c& 
Co., Wolverhampton. Established 
1773." The cup has been in the Knaggs 
family for over 100 years. 



WILLIAIVI KNAGQS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



William Knaggs. the youngest child 
of George Knaggs 1st and Rachel Sly, 
was born on the Maumee. There is 
no record of his birth or baptism, 
but several documents show that 
he must have been born about 
17S4. Nothing whatever can be ascer- 
tained about his personality as a boy 
or a young man. Land entries, how- 
ever, show that he owned a quantity 
of mother earth in early lite, some of 
which were Indian grants, obtained 
through the influence of his oldest 
brother. Whltmore Knaggs. The Am- 
erican state papers, which chronicled 
the confirmation of lands to persons 
who were in possession of them In 
1796, when American sovereignty com- 
menced In the west, show that three 
tracts of land were confirmed in 180S 
to William Knaggs on Nov. 16, Dec. 13 
and Dec. 17, respectively, as follows: 
Four arpents, bounded in front by the 
River Raisin, by SO in depth, in rear 
by unconceded lands, above by lands 
owned by Will' am Knaggs. and below 
by lands claimed by Antoine Rivard. 
In all 320 arpents. Confirmed. Also 100 
arpents on the north side of the Raisin 
river by 100 In depth, bounded In front 
by the river. In rear by unconceded 
lands, above by lands of Thomas 
Knaggs, and below by lands of Whit- 
more Knaggs, m all 600 arpents. Cer- 
tificate 495 Issued. Also, a tract of 3 
by 120 arpents. bounded in front by 
the River Raisin, in rear by unlocated 
lands, above by Francois Baron and 
below by Joseph Bellair. Certificate 
621 Issued. Although these 1,280 ar- 
pents of land were not very valuable 
at the time they were acquired, they 
formed a very good start in life for a 
young man of 24. 

William was probably a scout and 
spy in the war of ISli, but is never 
mentioned in that capacity alone, but 
always with his brothers, and there Is 
no record that he performed a single 
individual deed in that war. By his 
mother's will he inherited a farm 
fronting three arpents on the River 
Raisin, adjoining that of his brother 
Thomas. Like his father, George 
Knagg."!. he was unfortunate In busi- 
ness. He kept a store and Indian 
trading post, probably at Monroe, and 
married Margaret Willson before a 
Justice at that place. Two children 
were born, but the first, who 
was named Amelia, died in in- 
fancy. The second ohild, Elizabeth 
Knaggs, was born at the Raisin. He 
died of consumption in 1S17, and Alex- 
ander D, Frazer, of Detroit, one of his 
creditors, filed a petition In that year 
which showed that the deceased had 
left an insolvent estate, and prayed 
for an administration of the same. 

In the list of Indian treaties 
his name appears as interpreter 



at the treaty of Springwells, 
between the United States govern- 
ment and the Chippewas, Ottawas, 
Pottawntomics and certain bands of 
the Wyandots, Senecas, Shav.-nees and 
Miamis, on Sept. S, 1S15. 

Mrs. Margaret Willson Knaggs sub- 
sequently came to Detroit, and became 
the housekeeper of Oliver Newberry's 
mansion, still standing at the north- 
east corner of Fort and Shelby streets. 
Newberry was one of the leading men 
in the western states, and his fleet of 
steamers and sailing vessels was the 
largest on the chain of lakes. He was 
a bachelor and was generally styled 
"Admiral" Newberry. Her daughter, 
Elizabeth, lived with her In the New- 
berry mansion until she married, and 
she then resigned as housekeeper and 
liver] with the newly married pair. 
When they removed to Marine City she 
accompanied them, and died in that 
city on Oct. 24. 18,S1. aged over SO years. 
She was buried In the family lot in 
the St. Clair, Mich., cemetery. She 
was reared amid all the horrors of 
war, and having a retentive memory, 
often related interesting incidents of 
the war of 1812-5 and the massacre of 
the Raisin to her childen and grand- 
children. Her husband like all her 
brothers, was proficient In the Indian 
tongue, and was an interpreter, and, 
like his brother James, at one time 
carried the mail between Monroe and 
Detroit. 



E^lizabetli KnnffS^. 

Elizabeth Knaggs, daughter of Will- 
iam Knaggs and Margaret Willson, 
and granddaughter of George Knaggs 
1st, was born at the Raisin (Monroe), 
on March 2. 1S16. As above related, her 
father died in the following year, and 
she afterward removed to Detroit with 
her m.other. She was an inmate of 
Commodore Newberry's house while 
her mother was housekeeper, and when 
she reached maturity, worked in Zach- 
arlah Chandler's shirt factory, which 
was over his store on Jefferson ave- 
nue. She became acquainted with 
Nelson Woodworth, a handsome young 
man, who was a mate on one of Oliver 
Newberry's steamers, and the son of 
Josiah Woodworth, a farmer in Green- 
field township, near Detroit. Josiah 
Woodworth was a cousin of Ben 
Woodworth. of Detroit, the landlord of 
the famous Steamboat hotel, and of 
Samuel Woodworth, the noted poet, 
who was the author of "The Old Oak- 
en Bucket." Nelson brought his sweet- 
heart out to the township, and married 
her on Dec. 25, 1841, before Justice John 
Burbank. who lived near his father's 
house and was a good friend of the 
family. Elizabeth at that time, was 
25 years of age, and her b.U.sband was 

(49) 



two years younger. They first lived at 
19 Seventh street and subsequently at 
309 Howard street, and all their chil- 
dren were born in Detroit. Elizabeth's 
mother lived with the pair, and Oliver 
Newberry was a frequent visitor at the 
house. About 1866 the family removed 
to Marine City and lived there until 
Elizabeth and her husband died. Mrs. 
Elizabeth Woodworth was quiet, lady- 
like and somewhat arisocratic in her 
ways, devoted to her family and home, 
and was kind, lovable and obliging. 
In her later years she was stricken 
with paralysis, and was an invalid for 
some time before her death, which -oc- 
curred on Oct. 4, 1SS7, aged 71 years. 
She was buried In the family lot in the 
St. Clair cemetery. Her husband was 
a mate on the steamer Mayflower, the 
first vessel built for the Michigan Cen- 
tra! railroad, which was launched in 
1848, and made its first trip on April 10, 
1S49. She was lost in 1851. He was a 
capable mariner and was afterward 
captain of the propeller Missouri and 
other steamers. He died at Marine City 
on Jan. 12, 1890. 

Nelson Woodworth and Elizabeth 
had six children, as follows: 

(1) Mary Elizabeth Woodworth, 
born Oct. 19, 1842. married John C. 
Young, marine engineer. Marine City, 
Michigan. John C. Young was acci- 
dentally killed by falling into the 
hatchway of the steamer Masaba at 
Milwaukee, on Dec. 22, 1901. His widow 
lives at Marine City. They had 
five children — (1) Katherine E. 
Y'oung, born March 10, 1876, Marine 
city; teacher in Marine City public 
school. (2) Sadia M. Young, born Oct. 
5. 1879, at Marine City. Clerk in post- 
office. Marine City. (3) Genevieve A. 
Young, born July 4. 18S1, Marine City. 
In high school. (4) Helen M. Young, 
born Nov. IS, 1883, and (5) Van B. 
Y'oung, born Aug. 17, 1886, both attend- 
ing Marine City high school. 

(3) Louisa Woodworth. born Oct. 19, 
1S44. married in Detroit, John E. Mar- 
tin, bookbinder. Mr. Martin served in 
the civil war as a soldier, and was 
wounded in the head at the battle of 
Knoxville. The wound affected his 
brain and he subsequently became an 
inmate of the Pontiac asylum and died 
there. His wife and family removed 
from Detroit to Pontiac to bo near 
him. and he died on Oct. 24, 1S93. Four 
children— (1) Nelson Martin, born July 
22, ISOfi, died Sept. 26, 1S66. (2) Louisa 
E. Martin, born Feb. 8, 1868; died Oct, 
9. 1879. (3) John E. Martin, born Jan. 
IS, 1870; married MItty Stroud at Pon- 
tiac, Sept. 11. 1S90; one child. Ethel 
Martin, born Sept, 18, 1891. (4) Joseph 
H. Martin, born Sept. 28. 1873. John 
E. and Joseph H. are both foremen in 
separate departments of a large car- 
riage factory at Pontiac. 

(3) Catherine Woodworth, born on 



50 



WILLIAM KNAGGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 



AiiR. 1. IS-t"; married Morton Potter. 
Marine City. No children. Slie died 
on March 3. 1S92. 

(4) Neison Woodworth. born on Oct. 
25. 1S19; died Feb. 12, 1866. at Marine 
City, aged 17 years. 

(5) Chester Woodworth, born Nov. 
:9, 1S52; married Ella Schaoffer at 
Marine City in December, 1S70. She 
ilitd in March, 1S94. Four children— 
(1) Nelson Woodworth, employed on 



lake steamers. The other three chil- 
dren, who were named Lyda. Roy and 
Charles, are dead. 

(C) Margaret Amelia Woodworth, 
born Dec. 1, 18.55; married Henry Don- 
aldson, lake captain, Marine City,, on 
Feb. 4. 1.S73. Eight children, all born 
in Marine City — (1) Joseph Henry Don- 
aldson, wheelm.an on lake steamers, 
born Aug. 15, 1875; died March 13. 1900. 
(2) Mabel Amelia Donaldson, born Sept. 
29. ISSO; Uvea at home. (3) Lyda Sophia 



Donaldson, born July 31, 1882; died July 
3, 1883.(4) Robert Bruce Donaldson, 
born Oct. 15, 1S84; watchman on lake 
steamers. (5) Dotta Belle Donaldson, 
bom Nov. 21, 1866; attending high 
school. (6) Mary Madeline Donald- 
son, born Nov. 30, 1890; died Dec. 2, 
1S70. (7) Marguerite Manola Donald- 
son, born July 31, 1892; died Feb. 10, 
1S96. (8) Dilllon Proser Donaldson, 
born Feb. 27, 1895; died May 11, 
1893. 



END OP KNAGGS FAMILY HISTORY. 



e:^rata. 



Furt Stephenson, p. 20. should read Fort Stevunson. 



R. M. Johnston, p. 20, shouM read R. M. Johnson, 



i:^i®-"r oi^ TJ^i^jjs^^n^j^^To::^^, 



"War Swept Valley of the Maumee 3 

"Whitmore Knaggs, silhouette 7 

Whitmoro Knaf^gs's House- and Windmill. 8 
Mar» showing Detroit river coast between 

Woodward ave. and the Knaggs home.. 9 

St?. Anne's Church In 1S12 10 

George and John Knaggs in girls' clothes. 11 
Gen. Winche.ster and Whitmore Knaggs 

Surrender to Blue Jacket 12 

I.abadie t ouse in 1S13 14 

George Brown Knaggs IS 

Gtor^e Brown Knaggs Wailing for Gen. 

Proctor 18 

Gtorge Brcwn Knaggs's House. Maumee. 

Ohio 19 

Mrs. Keyfor 20 

Mis.s Antoinette Knaggs 20 

George Knaggs 21 

Mrs. Melinda Knaggs 21 

Leona S. Knaggs 22 



Adeline Josette Knaggs 22 

Adflaide M. Knaggs 22 

Jamos W. Knaggs 23 

Elizab.'th Matilda Knaggs 23 

Archange Ellrn Knaggs 26 

Elizabeth A. Knaggs 2fi 

Charh's Knagg.s Trombly 27 

Elizabeth Knaggs 27 

ElizJ'bth Knaggs 29 

Elizabeth Knaggs Anderson Defying the 

Indian." 30 

Col. John Anderson 31 

Rebecca Knaggs Looking for Her Hus- 
band's Body 33 

James Knaggs 34 

James Knaggs Saved from Incremation by 
the Mother of the Delaware Indian he 

had Killed 3r> 

James Knaggs 3G 



Col. McGregor Taken Prisoner by James 

Knaggs and Medard Labadie 37 

Jama's Knaggs and Seven Others Visit 

Commodore Perry 38 

"he Death of Tecumseh 39 

James Knaggs Trapped the Indians who 

Came to Capture Him 40 

George Knaggs 41 

James Knaggs 41 

lOIiza Knaggs 42 

Mrs. May Stocking Knaggs 43 

liebecca Knaggs 43 

Robert W. Knaggs 44 

Mrs. Robert W. Knaggs 44 

Rachel Knaggs and Her Second Husband, 

Richard Metty 46 

James Racket Knaggs 48 

Mrs. James Kacket Knaggs 48 

An Old Shaving Cup 48 



li^i^Ejx:. 



IND^X TO PLAGSS. 



... 44 



41 Tort Meigs 

43 Fort Miami 

4 Fort Orange, N. 1' 

Fort Shelby 

43 Fort street 

45 Fort .StevotlKon 

44 Fort Wayne, Ind 

44 Fort Wayne. Mich 

'.".'.'.'.'.*.'. 27 Fowlervlile, Livingston Co, 

!!]!!.!!. ..15. 21, 29 Fr.iii:e 

8 ii. 12, 13, 14. 18, 36, 38, 47 Frankfort. Ind 
27 41, 43. 44 Freeport 



13. 14,15,30,30 Milan, Mich. .. 

5. 4. 5, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 26, 34 Milwaukee, Wl: 
4 Minnesota 



IS Mlseaukee County 
43 Mississippi River 



Mich. 



ibordMn, Wash. .. 

Adrian, Mich 

Albany. N. T 

Alherta, Canada ., 

Albion. Mich 

Ald»n. Mich 

All'gan Co., Mich 

Alto, Mich 

Amawalk, N. Y — 

America 

Amherstburg .... 

Ann Arbor 

Antrim township 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

Atlanta 

Ai^riiia v:.v:.v::::.v^:.'.'.'.v.'ti ootiysbiirf ::::::::::..;..; 2;; Miw^-gon 

Australia fliji.ffnw 20 Nebraska 

Baltimore. Md « "'.t!?? ^.UV.;; 21.4.- New Llsbcn. O 



41 

27. 45. P 

42 

41 

8, 9, 23 

14, 2iJ I>tissouri S>. ;W 

... 4 Mohawk Valley. N. T 3.24,41 

...10 Monguagon (Mich.) 10,37 

... 41 Monroe 

7, 11, 20 4, I, 6, 11, 12, 17, 20. 21. 2.i. 26. 2.S, 29, 30, 31, 

32, 33, 34, 39. 40. 41, 42, 43, 44. 45, 48, 47, 49. 



HI 

17 Fremont, O : 

,22 Frenchtown .' ■•• 

il 5, C, 11, 12, 13.29, 30. 31. S4. 37, 

20 Gaines 



.13 



5cneseo. Livingston Co., N. Y. 



17 

.25, 31 Monroe Ave. 

.... 28 Monroe Co 

Montana 

3S, 4ii Moraviantown .. 

41 Montreal 

.... 20 Mud Creek, O., 



19 Clran,! Rapids 



N. Y. 



.17. 37 Grand River 

.11, 16 Grape. Monroe Co. 



fireat Britain 
Crern Bay. Wis. 



Bardstown. Ky. 
T;arn':sville, Minn, 

Bates street 

Bath. Steuben Co, 

Battle Creek 

Bay City 

Bay Mills. Mich .- _ ,. . ^. 

Hedfor,! Town.sh!p 27,28 grnhne. Ok .•.•■.•.•.■.".".".'.';;;;..;.... 13 Nowato. Indian Tcrlltory 

?:{!:ir^,f^':..;-:--v.-v.--:::::::::t Salif^mck- ■.•;;;;.■;;..; » oa^and co 

^^:^^^.:r^:::::::::::::::::::::"^ Mr-" VEasii-;:::::;:;;::;;::;::;;:;::;:;:^ Sr^'-^ 



17 
.16, 31, 33, 35, 40, 52, 43, 47 

41 

14. 38 

4, 12, 13, 2.?, 29 



5 35 43, 44 Greenfield Township 

■■ ■ 43 Griswold Street, Detroit. 



4S New Mexico 

9,43 Newton, Mass 10 

...15. 33 New York 17, !.0. 22, 34, 41, 43 

G, 20, 3;! Niagara River 14 

£4 Northamt>ton. Mass 31 

4 North Carolina SO 

22 North Dakota 2S 

18 
47 

3, 4. 5, 13, 15, 20, 22. 37 

____ Mich 45 

Birmingham .. 4' nTm^ate ' ....'.'...■.■.'.■..■.' 17 Orcha.d Lake ' 19 

loTllnf GTeen.-oV.V.V.V.V.-."...:... 28 H^ganstown. N.. Y 20 Oregon ^ 



r!o.;tnn Mas<i 11"".'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 44 Hopkins Township. Allegan Co., Mich.. 44 Ottawa .......... 

E?adev Mfeh 44 lizard -street 19 Ottawa Ind.aT,s 

Irmsh 'Cofumbla-::::::i::'.'.l.l...l 25 Hua.on Mlch^ 43 Owosso 

Brltton. Lenawee Co 41 H'^on_ J^l'i'.l "'Jji".^ 

Bronson. Mich 

Ter 



28 
.4. .«, 49 



Brownstown. Mich 
Buffalo, N. T. ... 

Bull Run 

Burns Township 

California 18,25,48 I/wa 

c.nmpau Allev, Detroit 4 Ironvllle, Ohio .. 

Canada 4, 7. 12. IS. 23, 28, 37 Italy 



_ 4 PampetvlUe 

45 Ida Townshrp. Monroe Co H Pennsylvania .^. 

'44 11,16 Illllnols 5. 24,41 Penn Yan, N. Y. 

17, 20, 36 Indiana »• *^ Penobscot Bay, 

20 18 Indian Reservation 'S Petoskcy, Mich. 

""it! 47 Indian Territory IS PWladelphla, Pa, 

20I 27 
... 27 



Canton Township, Wayne Co., Mich 

Caxo. Mich 

<_'ass House 

CcntervlUe, 111 

Champlain. Lake 

Chatham, Ont 5, 

Cheboygan, Mich 

Chicago 



4ll 42 Jtfkson Co.. Mich 

...42 James Township. Kent Co.. Mich 

Ill 7 .Teflerson Ave.. Detroit 4. li 

47 Jcyuit Mission 

... 20 Joltet. Ill 

23,37 Kalamazoo 

...26 Kan^a.s 

Kechewandangoning 1 ' 

tucky 5.12,13,29,30 



,,.. 2S 
... 43 
... 20 
... IS 
.... 46 
... S 

Philippines 41. 44 

PittsbuTg Landing 4S 

Plvmouth 21. 42 

2S Pontiac. Mich 19,24.49 

44 Portage. 22 

49 Porter St 11 

4 Port Huron ii' 1, 

41 Portland. Ore 22, 25 

24. 41. 42 Port Laurens 23 

,.18 23 Fottawatomies *' , 

Prairie Ronde, Wayne Co., Mich 16, 17 

.. Prssque Isle 13. 20 

25 Put-in-Bay M' « 

- - 3. 4. 12, 13, 14, '■■• '= 



In. 16. 19, 21.' 23. 21. 26, 31, 32, 41, 43, 44, 45.46 Kent' 

Chippe.va Indians 8.49 Keokuk. la n,.ni,e.- 3 4 1' 13 14 33.4b 

Clnilnnatl. 11, 22, 23, 24, 43 Ketch-e-nam-gen-mk ...■■. 17 Quebec 3. 4. I., "• " ^^ 

Clark Avenue 7 Knaggss Creek .'l i;;:;: Hi: 1 .'^1 f. gi ?iT or''Frenchtown.lllllll. .1.1..1. ..13, 42 

ci^^^^"^l„ "suburb' oi"cincmnatfJ:.''l n ^^^^^est," mlllllllll 32 J^j-vUle^ownshlp ....33,40.41, 42, 43 45, 

p^^.^:]^-:.^±:::-:::=:: f g^^-^nshipi:i:;::::::::;::::?M^: | ^f!J..^^^.^^ri^^:^:^o. 33, 34, S7 

^"'"uT ■■■<,: 17 iJrov Mich ll'lllll 11.1 45 RMtord Township. Wayne Co 26.28 

Crookston, Minn 17 J^™Vn .'..111 21 Rockbar 21 

Cuba ..•••• -.l- it j2ndon 12 Roche de Boeuf «4 

Dayton Ohio l"l'lll'29l 30 London Township. Monroe Co 4142 Rockwoo^ Monroe Co 47 



27. 28 McKinstry Ave. 

..Ill 14 Mackinac 

32 Maine 

.... 2S Maiden Township 

Malvern Hill 

Mancelona. Mich. 
Manton. Mich. .. 



D-^erfield. Mich 

Defiance. O 

Denver, Col 

Deshler. Wood Co., Ohio 

Detroit 

«, '4, 5, 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17 

24. 25. 26, 27. 29-34. 36-40, 41-43. 46-48. 49. 

DIghv, Wood Co.. 28 Marietta. Ohio 

Dli Settlement 48 Marine City .. 

Dubuque, la IS Martinsfield. Ill, 

Dundee. Mich 41,43,44 Massachu.'"-"- 

EcorsPi 

Flk Station, Mich 41 

Elm Hall, Mich 

Bhigland 

Erie. Lake 4 



7 Rouge River 



.15, 46, 47 



N. Y. 



42 
42 
43 
4S 

17 



Tilrle. Monroe Co 

Krie. Pa 

Erie Township, Monroe Co — 

Kvanston. Ill 

Exeter Township. Monroe Co.. 

Fall.-.n Timbers 

Flndlay, O 

Fort George 

Port Laramie. Wyo, 



Port Lernoult ...' 18 Michigan Territory . 

rort Maiden 36 MirhlUmacklnac 

Port Maiden IS MIddleville, "" 



19 Romulus Township 

... IS Ross. Texas 

... 47 Rushford. Alleghany Co 

...43 Sacramento. Cal 

... 45 .'Jacred Heart Convent 

,... 44 Saginaw IB, 16, 17, 19, 41 

... 31 Band Piint. Idaho 42 

49, 50 Sandusky 14, 20, 33 

,,^, ^,, 25 Sandwich. Ont 4,5,13.15.29,33,37.46 

setts .111.1 10, 31 Sandy Creek. Monroe Co 46 

Maumee O ^an Francisco jS 

4-7 is 14.16.18.20.21.23.24.33.34.3.5.49 Santleeo '* 

....44 Maumee Rapids 3,13,16,29,30 Sault Ste. Marie... .. 

in IK A^ iLfmimpp "River Sa^ilt Ste. Mane. Ont 

10.15.43 Maumee r.i er ..^^ ^^ 22,23,25.29.33.34.46 Schofleld Township. Monroe Co 43 

Maumee Vaiiey ...1 3, 13. 14. IS. 20 Scotland " 

..40.41.43 Senecas 49 

22,31 Shawr.ees 49 

..17, 22. 29 Phawneetown. Kas IS 

4 Sheboygan. Wis 26 

49 Khelbv street 49 

Shiawassee 1". »'■ ^ 

41 Shreveport. La JJ 

15.16,2123 South Bend. Ind •• 24 

15 .ciouth Colchester Twp., Essex Co., Ont.. 47 

11 44 South Haven. Mich 45 



19, 21 
...47 



27 

13,. 14 Maybee 

I, 27, 28. 16 Mexico 

2il. 32 Miami 

..41. 42. 43 Miami River 

34. 5. 7 Miami^ 

22 Michigan — 

' 'is' 14 .., 3. 5. 6. 8. 17, 20. 26, 31. 34, 40, 41. 44 ShMoh 

Michigan City. Ind 



Mich. 



INDEX TO PLACES. 



South Lyon. Mich 31 

South Rockwood. Mich 46 

Spencer, Mass 22 

Spiingfleld. Ill 31 

Springfield. Mass 22,31 

Spring Lake. N. Y 43 

.Springwcll.s 10, 11, IG, 17, l.S, 4S, 49 

SprJngvale, Mich 44 

Stamford, Delaware Co., N. Y 30 

.Stanton St 11 

StK -\nne Church 

riieamboat Hotel 4y 

10. 11, 16, 17, U, 23. 24, 26, 2B 

St. Anne St.. Detroit 4 

St Antoine St 11 

St. Clair, Mich 3S, 40 

St. Francesville, Mo 25 

St Joseph Co 19, 30 

St. Lawrence 45 

St. Louis, Mo 22, 24, 26, 28, 42, 45 

St. Mary 18 

.St. Mary's Church 17 

St. Paul 26 

SlummerScld Township, Monroe Co 40 

Sumter Township, Wayne Co 42 

Snohomish, Wash 44 



Superior Township, Washtenaw Co 43 

Syracuse, N. Y 33 

Terro Haute, Ind 26 

Texas 26 

Vhames Itivor 14, 15, 37, 3S, 311, 13 

Toled.i 

3, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23. 33, 24, 27, 3K, 33, 40, 41, 
44. 46, 46, 

Toledo. Eaat 37 

Toledo. West 21, 22. 27 

Traverse City 44, 45 

Trinity Church 11 

Troy. N. Y 41 

Tustin. Mich 44 

Union City, Mich 44 

United States 

4. 5. 7, 9, 10, 13. 15. 16, 17, 20, 23, 29, 30, 34, 
3S. 41. 43, 44, 49. 

Upiier Canada 39 

Uibma, 38 

Vermont S3 

Vernon 17 

VIncennes 15, 19 

Wabash 4, .S 

Wales 3 



Walkcrvillo 33 

Walpole Island 21 

Walton. Gi-and Traverse Co., Mich 44, 45 

Warwickshire. Eng 33 

Wa^^co Co.. Ore 25 

Washinston City .10, 11, 13, 22., 23. 30. 32. 47 

Wa:ihington State 47 

Washtenaw Co 43 

Watervllle, 22, 24 

Wayne Co., Mich. ...5, 16, 17. 25, 31, 41. 42. 43 

Wayne Co.. N. Y 47 

Wayne, Mich 42 

Wayne St.. Detroit 4 

West Point 19 

Whitetord Center 27 

Whiteford Township, Monroe Co 1.7 

White Pigeon 25.26,30,31 

Windsor, Ont 5,11,24,33 

WindEor. Wis 32 

WLsconsin 5,6,31,44 

Wood Co., Ohio 28 

Woodw.inl Ave 11 

Wyandotte. Mich 41 

Wyandcilte.s 49 

Yp.silanti 41,42,43 



:x TO 



.&. 



Abbott Capt 




4S 






4 






10 


Alexander Duncan . 
Catherine Elizabeth. 

Charles Burton 

Col 


29. 30, 

...v.'.'.'.'.'.'.* 29' 


31 
31 
31 

?0 


Col. John 

Edwin Ruthven 

Eliza 


.9, 20. 25, 30, 
,*.."'. 30 


46 
. 31 


Elizabeth 

ElizRbih Knagga . 

Frederick 

Gen 


.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.6.' sol 


25 

, 31 

31 

?0 


Jano Estelle 




'1 


Jane Stewart Clark 

John 

.lohn Clark 

.Tohn Washington.... 


(Mrs.) 

..6, 9, .25, 29, 

'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.sh'. 


, 30 
34 
31 
31 








William Ernest 

Wing 




31 


Angel, Lillian 






.-\nteou, David 






James 




•>(? 


Thos 






Antoinette, Queen 




''O 


Archer, George 




27 


Armstrong. Mary A 






Ash. Leila 






Askln. John 


5 


■>? 


Attwater, Reuben 






Baby, Francois 




T> 


I'aby, Mrs 




12 


Racon 




Bailey. Susan 




17 


Pancroft. Mrs. Hattie 




M 


Barns. Giles 




5 

in 


Raron. Francois 




Rates. Fred 






Rath. W. F 






Reaman. Alice 






Rc'.rd. David 







Beaubien, Antoino 






Mrs 




17 






Reaudnin. Thomas 




17 


Reaudry, .John 




16 


Rc-augrand, J. B 






Ceauseau, Leon 




17 


Rebo 




21 


Bell. F. D 




Rcllair. .Joseph 




10 


Roller 

n-'nore. Alexis 

Estcllo 


111. 


2li 
28 
2.S 


Henry 




Isaac 

Lucy 

Peter 


'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.o.'ih'. 


2S 
2S 
2.? 
40 
27 
27 
27 
19 


Benson 

Berthelet. Charles A..'.'.'.'.'.'.'." 

Berthelet. Henry 

Peter 


Bertrand, Pr 




Marshall 




Biddle 




26 
41 
41 
11 


Bishop. Charles (Dr.) .. . 




Charles Jr 




Pargo 




Levi 

Bisscll, John A 

nissonet, Pauline 

Black 




16 
15 
47 


Rlokeley. Fred J 

Rlouch. Myrtle 




22 


Boardman, Belle Wing 

George (Rev.) ...'. 

George B 

Sarah Bray ton 

Bodlne Oarrle 

Bondy. Mary 




32 

32 

, 32 

32 

46 



Thos 47 

Veronique 23 

Virginia 4G 

norraman. William 47 

Bosley, Mtss Laura 20 

Bowen, Sarah 44 

Dowlea, Gteoige 44 

Jessie May 44 

Vernon L 44 

Boyfl. Mr 31 

Boyd. Wm. H 30 

Bradford, RusecU 43 

Bradford, Vv^m 43 

Bradley. Arthur 41 

Brady, Josiah 9 

Biandy. Jack (Indian chief) 12 

Bratt. Agnos Alma 47 

Earl James 47 

Edwin James 47 

Ellis Edwin 47 

Ethel 47 

Ernest Effort 47 

Ena 47 

Gorden 47 

James 47 

Joseph 47 

Judson Albert -...47 

Laura 47 

Leroy Thomas 47 

Lilla Elizaboth 47 

Lottie Almire 47 

Lurinda 47 

NeHie Matilda 47 

Ruby Acenath 47 

Thomas Edmond 47 

William Joseph 47 

William Stephen ."47 

Brenton. Col 13 

Brevoort 47 

Brovoort. Henry ./.../...,'. 17 

Brock, Gen n. 13, 37 

Brodhoad. Thornton 7] 24 

Brooks. Edward '..'..'..! 16 

Brown. Isabel 42 

Brut h. [ 37 

Capt. Henry !!!!!* 37 

f"l If? 

Mrs. E. A 20 

Mrs. Eliza Hunt .'." 20 

Rachel 47 

Brun.'^on, Clara 41 

Edward " 41 

Lucy 41 

Ludia Knaggs '.', 41 

Rachel 47 

Buck, Abel 44 

Almond 44 

Alpheus 44 

Cora di4 

Daisy 44 

David Seeley 44 

Eliza Ann 44 

Esther Ann 44 

E. Willis 44 

Fayette 41 

Forrest 44 

Frank 44 

Fred 44 

George W 44 

Hattie 14 

Harriet 44 



Lillie 

Mary 

Mary Eliza 

Nina 

Rene Belle 

Roy 

Serai pha . . . 

TTly:-.£!os 

W.nllace 

William .... 

Willi.- 

BurbanU. Justice . 



. 44 
44 
. 44 
. 44 
. 44 
. 44 
, 44 
. 44 
, 44 
, 44 
44 
. 49 





4. 


Bush, Ira D 


Mrs 




Caldwell 


Capt 


Capt. William 


Dr 


Juliet 


Cami b 1 i . Maj. Wm 


Alexis 


7. n, 


A. T ,, 




Frank 








_ 17 






Marie 




Mr 


Moses 


Parrish 


Sister Lickette 


Carlin Mrs. Lottie Knaggs 




Clifford 








Samuel 


Walter .'.. 


Cartwright, Bertha 

Jas 




Cass 


7 


Bell 


Col - 


Gen 


1R 17 


Gen. Lewis 






Gov. Lewis 


s 


Lewis 


Ifl 11 


Mrs '... . 




Isabel 


Chandler, Zachariah 

Chene, Charles 


!!''""'"2s* 


CIvde 




Ella 


Peter 


9?; 




Chipman, John Logan 


Christopher. Mary L 

Cicotte. Capt. James 


Clanin. H. B.. . 


Clarke 

Clark, Carrey C 

Dr. Robert 


'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.25. 


John A 


Maria Roid 

Clans. Col. Wm 


25, 


Clay. Gen 




rieveland 


Clover, William 

Collins. Alonzo 

Bertha 

Eli 


Harry 

Hattie ."; 

Irene 


Jame.s 

Margaret ..'.' 

Neafle 

Trynche 


ColIiPon, Arthur 

Grace 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



53 



Colwell 
Conant, 



Cooper 



Peter <6 

PhilUs <6 

Rachel *° 

Selima ^5 

Susan 46 

Thomas -'6 

Thomas A W 

Thomas C 46 

Dillenback, L. S 27 

Dix, Jacob 1' 

Dodomead. John 3 

DonaldEOn, Dillion Proser j'"* 

Henry ^'^ 

Joseph Henry ^ 

Lotta Bc-Ue 50 

Lyiia Sophia oO 

Mabel Amelia aC 

Marguerite Manola EiO 

Mary Madeline 5'1 

Robert Bruce 5i) 

Dorr, Josiah IS* 

Do\\Tier. J. J I"' 

Arthur"! 2S Drouillard. Pierre T 

Bazlle 27 Teresa 34.40 

Clara M 28 Dudl.y 14 

Delia 27 Dudley. Gen 14 



Llna ■" 

Pearl 47 

Ross " 

.^^.""^. :::::::::::::::::::::::n: \l 

, Sherbalt ' 19 

Cone, Harriet R 44, 45 

ConkliTig. Sarah *' 

Conner, James » 

William 3S 

Cook, Sadie 28 

Coombs, i* 

Capt 14 

Capt. Leslie w 



36 



Cooper, David 16,23 

Cososh or Hos (Indian chief) 15 

Cotterall, Georgo » 

Cousino, Adolph ^» 

Alexis ^ 

Angeline 27 

Annie 28 



Girty, Simon JJ 

Godfrey " 

Gravcline. Charles *' 

Joseph 4' 

Graverat, Henry ^ 

Gregory " 

Giey Jl 

Grilfln, Harley ••• " 

Jemima •>4. 4U 

Jessie 44 

John ^ 

Judge f 

Merle 44 

Grodie, Adolphus 46 

Grodi. David ••■ 27 

Ounn., Bllsha 21. zz 

Matilda Elizabeth 21 

Wealthy S 23 

Willard 22 

Hamlin. Mrs. ... "j 

Hammond 24 

Clara T IJ 

Hamtramck. Col. John Francis ■; 

Kannah-Lay Co 44 



Eliza E 2.il 

Elizabeth 28 

Elman L 28 

Flaget 28 

Gertrude 27 

Gilbert 28 

Isadora G 28 

Jerome 28 

Jo.seph G 28 

Leo 28 

Linus P 28 

Lynn 27 

Mary S 28 

Pascal T 28 

Richard 23 

Rose 28 

Rossie 27 

Ruth 27 

Stella 27 

Thomas 28 

Tresley E 28 

Valerie V 28 

Couture, Medard 40 

Mis. Alice 40 

Croghan, Col 14 

Croghan, Gen. George 20 

Cropsey, Charles E 41 

Francis 41 

Frank 41 

Crosby, Belle Grace 43 

Crummit, ' Samuel 27 

Cummlt, Pearl 27 

Cutcheon, Rep. Byron M 16 

Currn. Carrie 27 

D'Agensais. Mary 47 

D'Aumale, Duke 20 

Davis, Frederick 41 Duvall. 



Duntley. Inez -42 

Duquette Alexis 28 

Alexis, Jr 28 

Alva J 2S 

Bertha Ellen 28 

Celesta 28 

Clara 28 

Clara Ethel 28 

Daniel 28 

Delia 28 

Elizabeth 23 

Ellen 28 

Fern 28 

Floyd 28 

Ivro Dezvan 28 

James 28 

Laura May 28 

Lulu Pearl 28 

Maxim A 28 

Minnie 28 

Noah 28 

Nonia 28 

Ptalph N 28 



Hanning, Aaron 

Austin Marvin 4a 

Edith Agnes 42 

Fern 42 

George A 42 

Grace Jemima 42 

Harry Palmer 42 

Maude Isabelle 42 

Payson Hutchlns 42 

Sarah Cornelia ■ . 42 

Thomas 43 

Thomas William 42 

Harrison H. H. W. 30, 3S, 40 

Gen 13. 1:1, 38 

Gen. William Henry 20. .TO 

Gov 10 

Litut. William Henry 5 

Haskin.s, Cynthia 22 

Haven, Alfred Coles 32 

Dr. A. C 32 

Eliz.ibeth Wing 32 

Erastus Otla 32 

Hawley, E. (Jr.) Probate Judge 16 

Heberi family ^ 

Jeannie ■■■ 7 

Le Compto * 



Richard 28 ]jenry. Rcbert '.'.'.'. • 4 



Waldron Max 28 

Werhe 28 

William 28 

Dusault. Virginia 27 

Duval. Dennis 28 

Effle 28 

Elnora 



Dr. Stephen 6, 9 

Herkimer, Robert 43 

Hitchcock. Charles Henry 22 

Henry J " 

Mrs 22 

Hivcn 3,S 

Holbrook. Carrie 45 



Mr. J 40 

Mary 48 

Nellie 43 

Thurlow 41 

Dean, Mrs. Ethel, Noggle 44 

Debendon (Indian name) 



Heuston 28 

Leroy 28 

Libby 28 

May 28 

10 

19 

■} 

. 9 



Dwyer 

Dyson. Samuel T.. 

Eastman, T 

Eberts. Robert M. 

Eddy. May 

Edwards. Wm. M. 



22 
(Dr.) 24 



De Chartres, Duke 20 Elgin, Augustus 21 



De Grasse, Clara 27 

Harry 27 

Hector 27 

De Joinville. Duke 20 

lie Joncalre. Chabert 9 

Deneau. Olive 47 

Denissen, Christian 4 

Dc Paris, Count 20 

De Peyster, MaJ 15 

Dequlndre. Capt. Antoine 10 

Deschelter. Mary 23 

Desheter. John 28 

Deshetler, Ann S! 

Desmarchals dit Parisien. Anthony 4' 

Desnoyers 

-Charles Augustine 24 

Charles Robert 24 

Charles Robert, Jr 24 

Edna 24 

Francis Henry 24 

Francis H 24 

Frank M 24 

James 24 

James Alexander 24 

Louis A 24 

Louis Philip 24 

Louis P 24 

Peter J 16, 17, 24 French 

Samuel 24 

Dickinson, .\urelia 82 



Ethel 28 Householder, George 41 

Henry 41 

Nellie 41 

Hov.-e. La?ira A 44 

Hubbard, Bela ' 

Bela W 1' 

Daniel 47 

Thomas H W 

Huber. Joseph 40 

Hull 9. 11-30. 37 

Commodore Isaac 20 

G^n 11. 13, 36 

Gov! 9, 10, 20, 29, 34, 46 

Gov. William 8 

Isaac 20 

Mrs 8 

Willliam : W 

Hunt, Gen. John Elliott 20 

Henry I •• 20 

Henry Jackson 19.20 

John Elliott 20 

Hunter. Joseph H 3- 

Isham, Marie 22 

Torrence 22 

Wealthy May 22 



32 
32 
32 



Burt 

Geo. B 

Helen Boardman 

Kate Wing 32 

Mary 32 

Warner 32 

Dickson. Christina 27 

Digue, David A 46 

Emma 46 

John 46 

Joseph 46 

Josephine 46 



Eliza 21 

James 21 

Josephine 21 

Lizzie 21 

Pearl 21 

Rachel 21 

Elliott, Col. Matthew 8. 11, 37 

Richard R 10 

Ellis, Perry 41 

Wellington 41 

Engle 26 

Finest 10 

Farmer 10 

Farwell. J 9 

Felicity 47 Farrel. John 4 

84 Felch. Senator 17 

Felt. Alta 41 

Felter, Mary 48 

Fendick, Robert 41 

Fish. Jennie 45 

Fisher. Mrs. Ollie Felter 4S 

Flaget. Benedict Joseph 19 

Forbes, Frank 41 

Francesco. Caroline 42 

Franklin. Benjamin 44 

Frazer 33 

Frazer. A. D 16,17 

Fraz'T. Alexander D 49 

Preston 23 

Spencer 28 

Frost, Salvira J 43 

F>-fe. W. H 22 

Garber. Harry 28 

Gardiner, Rev. Wm 32 

GanbeiUe, Joseph 7 



Ives 24 

Jackson. Eva 41 

Jacobs, Ell 27 

Jaco-Macatawacha or Black Skin 16 

Janvier, Fr 19 

Jefferson. President 8 

John. Capt 36 

Johnson. Col 39.40.13 

Col. Richard M 38. 39 

Richard M 40,43 

Sir William 3 

Johnston. Richard M 20 

Jones, Ada M 22 

Clark 44 

Dr. Grace 22 

Dr. Wm 22 

Dr. Wm. W 22 

Frank H 22 

John K 22 

Lenna 44 

Loren 44 

Olive 44 

Wm. M 22 



Gehlnessing (Chief) 47 Jordan. Ara Marrs 41 



Blue Jacket 12 

George Nancy 21 

Philip 21 

Richard 21 

Gereu. Mary 46 

Gibson. Clara 41 

_ Corydon 41 

Libblc 40 Gillett 24 

Noah 46 Shadrnck 24 



Frank 41 

Mrs. Norah 41 

Kah-ba-yan-ban-no-Qua 21 

Kanouse, Austin 42 

Keeler. Susan IS 

Kellogg. Mrs. Ann Eliza 20 

Kelly Albert 42 

Ellsha 42 

Roy 42 



54 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Kennedy, James -15 

Myrtle May 15 

Kerns. Hugh 42 

Kc-wa-tin 21 

Keysor, Chauncey C 21 

Mrs T 4. 6, 6, 35. 36 

King. Libbie Adele 23 

Kleiettler. Albert 41 

Kiiaggs. .\bby Corinne IS 

Abraham 27 

Ada 41 

Addle 27 

Adeline 27 

Adeline Josette, Mrs 22 

Adeline M 22, 27 

Adolph 27 

AKnes 27 

Alexander 21, 27 

Alexis 25. 26 

Alexis B 27 

Alice 27, 41 

Alia Robert 'i:. 

Aloysius 27 

Alvira 41 

Amelia 40 

Ann 25 

Annie 4, 25, 26, 33 

Annie 21. 27 

Antoinette 7, 20. 21, 35 

Archange 26, 27 

Arthur Hamilton IS 

Beatrice ....; 21 

Benjamin Franklin 41 

Beulah 27, 41 

••Billy" 25 

Blanche Agatha 43 

Brvant Elliott 43 

Carl 43 

Caroline 27, 40 

Caroline Louisa 43 

Catherine 41 

Catheiine Ann 17 

Catherine, Mrs 17 

Charles 25, 27, 41, 44 

Charles Peter Frederick IS 

Charles W 44 

Charlotte 21 

Christopher J 27 

Clarle 27 

Clarissa E 42 

Clark B 41 

Clayton 27 

Clyde 27 

Cornelius 27 

Daniel 43 

Daniel Asbury 43 

David 46. 47 

Delia May 23 

Dennis 27 

Dimies Camilla 43 

Dorcas Belle 43 

Durward 27 

Earl 27 43 

Edith Louise IS 

Elise 40 

Eliza 21, 22. 28, 40, 42 

Eliza V 41 

Ellzabe th 

4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 
23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33, 3G, 47, 48, 49. 

Elizabeth M 22 

Elizabeth Matilda 23 

Elizabeth V 41 

Ellen 27 

Elwood 27 

Emma H 22 

Emmia J 45 

Ester 27 

Eva W 22 

Eunice 40 

Ezbcdia (Zebedia ?) 27 

Florence 25 

Flossy 27 

Forrest 22 

Francis Edward 18 

Frank 27. 40 

Frederick 41 

Freedom W 43 

George 

5, 4, 5, 6, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 
26, 36, 3S, 40. 41, 42. 

George B. or Brown 

4, 5, 7, 16, 17, IS, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 35, 
36. 

George H 25 

George Sr. , or Ist 

5, 7, 17, ]S, 21, 23, 24, 2.i, 26, 27, 29. 33, 
34. 40. 41, 42. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 

George T 4t 

George Wesley 42 

Georgiana 42 

Gilbert 27 

Goldle 41 

Harel 27 

Harriet 41 

Harriet (Mrs.) 44 

Hattle Mary 45 

Hazel 42, 43 

Helen tl 

Helena 48 

Henry 21 

Henry G 22 

Ha 27, 41 

Irene 27 

laabelle 48 







27 






27 




4, 6, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 27, 
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. 
47, 49. 


23, 
43, 


33, 34, 36, 
44, 46, 46, 

40, 41 


James Henry 




42 

4S 






40, 41 


James W. ..4. 5, 7, S, 11 
James ■Whitmore..l7, IS 


, 12 
, 19 


1, 16, 20, 21 
, 20, 21, 23 
27 






27 






,40, 42, 44 


Jessie 




21 




7, 11, 10, 17, 20, 21, 22, 
48. 
John Jr 


23, 


27, 43, 47. 
43 






22 






43 


JohlLson 




,.40, 42, 43 
.... 25, 27 






11, 16 


Josette, Mrs. 




17 

17 






27 






27 






26 






Z7 






22 


LeslI-^ 




23 






45 






27 






27 






27 






27 






.... 25. 27 


Louis Whitmore 




25 

. . . . 21. 27 






27 


Lucia Cornelia 




43 

43 






41 


Lvdia 




40, 41 


Mabel 




.27, 41, 45 






27 


Margaret Wilson (Mrs.) 
Maria 


';22 


49 

, 25, 26, 40 
.22, 25, 27 






22 






40 






41 


Mary 

Mary Caroline 

Mary (colored) 


.27. 


28, 41, 48 

44 

.11, 16, 23 
43 


Mary Stocking (Mrs.).. 
Mary Octavia 




35 

23 

41 






27 


May Stocking. Mrs 

Mercedes 




5, 35 

27 


Millie 




. . , , 27 


Milton Woods 




43 

42 


Minnie M 




42 






It 


Mrs 


10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 
Murell 


19, 


20,22,23,34 
45 






43 






43 






28 46 47 






43 


Nellie 






Nellie L . . 




44 


Noah 




27 






42 


Paul 




21 


Pauline 




27 


Pearl 




42 


Pelagle, Mrs 




40 

27 






27 


Peter Whitmore 

7, 10, 13, 16, 

Peter William 

Perry 


17, 


'26, '47, 48 

25 

., 45 


Perry Newton 

Perry RIckley 




45 

46 

...6, 6, 46 


Rachel Kly 




33 






27 


Rebecca 4, 6, 21, 

Richard 


. 33, 


, 40, 41, 43 
27 






27 


Robert 




27, 40 


Robert Clark 

Robert W 




26 

. 44 


Robin B 




26 






27 






43 


Salestlne 




27 






21 27 


Sarah 




.. .. 27 


Sarah .\deline 




43 


Sarah Adella 

Suph ia Josephine 




43 

22 

,40, 46, 47 








4, 5. 6, 9, 29, 38, 41, 
Thomas. Jr 


46. 


47, 4S 49 
46 



Thurlow 41 

Timothy 37 

Vera 15 

Victor * 27 

Virginia 22 

Wallace M 22 

Walter Z7 

WaltLi- Wesley 43 

Wtaithy L 22 

Whitmore 

S-15, 17, 18. 21. 23, 24. 25. 29. 83, 34. 
41. 45, 46 49. 

^\Tiitmore, Jr 17 

William ..4. 6, 9, 1«. 27. 3S. 40. 46 49 

William Alexander 18 

William G 25. 2t5 

VvMlIiam R 45 

William Wesley 43 

Willis 25, 2G, 41 

Willis Brailey 45 

Wilscn 21 

Winflcld S 43 

Worlinton 22 

Worlington, Capt 22 

Worlington, Jr 22 

Zoe 28 

Knapp 3 

Kraus. Odelia 42 

I.abaai^ 14, 15 

Francois 7 

Josette t, 7, 15, 17, 33 

M , 39 

Marguerite 4, 15, 16, 33 

Mary 27 

Mary Descomptes 25 

Medard 37, 38, 40 

Monique 15, 17, 26 

Pierre 15 

Pierre Descomptes 7, 11, 15, is 

I.aboau. Mary 47 

Labo, Louise '.... 46 

Lacroix, Gilbert 6 

Ijaderonte. Sequin d it, Monique 25 

Lako, A 23 

Anita Wing 32 

Carl Wing 32 

Charles Oushman 32 

Elizabeth 23 

Lois Mabal 32 

Mrs. Belle Wing 32 

Lampkin, Nancy 40,42 

Lampkins, Fannio 41 

Lampkins, Lawrence 41 

Mary 41 

Lancaster, Charles M 45 

Clarabelle 45 

George A 44 

George Henry 45 

Glen Arlo 44 

Joseph Aaron 45 

Myrtle Alta 45 

Robert Harry 45 

Walter Laverne 45 

Willis Perry 45 

Lapointe. Adeline 28 

Ben 27 

Birdene 27 

Daniel 28 

Earl 27 

Henry 27 

John 2S 

Larned, Charles 16 

La Salle n. 34, 33 

La Salle, Blue Jacket (Indian) 11 

Jacques 11 

Latimer, Mary 44 

Lau 41 

Clai'issa 41 

Laundreau. Clarissa 28 

(See Londreau, 2S.) 

Laurence. Maggie 27 

Lavoy, Adeline 27 

Charles 27 

Eurdie 27 

George 27 

Gertrude 27 

Guy 27 

Harry 27 

Julia 27 

Louis 27 

Moses 27 

Lawlor. Margaret 47 

Lawrence. Charles 41 

James M 41 

Leaver, Lydia Ann 28 

Leavitt 22 

Lee. Capt. Isaac 37 

Commissioner 16 

Matilda 20 

Lehr. Martha A 2S 

Lemary, Cordelia 27 

Leonard, Ellen 27 

Emeline 41 

Letter. Laura Ann 25.26 

Lewis. Col 11 

Gilbert 28 

Mayor Alex 'm 

Lenk 21, 22 

Llbby, Gertrude 41 

Lincoln, Abraham 9 

President 24 

Little Turtle (Indian chief) 4. d 

Londreau, Isaac, Jr 28 

Isaac 28 

Londrow. Mary 27 

Lorain or Lorln 47 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



55 



47 

Lorln, Amabile 47 

Archange 4^ 

J. Bte •• 47 

Joseph 4g 

Lorrie, Frank i!"5i4(l 

ifoui's" Prinuppi'; King' of • Prance'.:. •.'.■. • ■ ■ ■ 20 

Louis XiVI 20 

Lucas. Gov 22 

LumpUin. Cora ■ 44 

Lutz. Earl . 44 

Epliraim 44 

Vera ' 26 

I yons, Elizabeth A- 26 

^ Elizabeth Chcne g' jg 

George 20 

Miss 33 

Macintosh,. Angus jg 

Mack, Stephen 38 

Macomb, William 5 

Mailison, James 21 

Mah-nee 21 

ManoaqU'Jro, Jennie 21 

John 45 

Manor, Peter 47 

Maiontate. Alma 47 

Alzora 47 

Amelia 47 

Eliza I7 

Elizabeth 47 

John 47 

Joseph 47 

Lena " 47 

Mary 47 

Norman 47 

Roy 47 

Thomas 47 

Thomas B 47 

Marsac. Helena 26 

Sophie 40 

Martin, Ethel 49 

John E 49 

Joseph H 4rj 

Louisa E 49 

Nelson 43 

Matthews, Bertha 



17 

Kate 37 

Lieut. -Col. j7 

Mary Elizabeth ^7 

William Waldron j^ 

Mitchell, James B j^ 

Robert Bruce „t 

Robert Bruce. Jr ^^ 

Wm. H 31 

Wm. Thornton J^ 

Mak. Wm. Edgar " 45 

Mrjminee, John 4^ 

Monroe. Adelbert ' 41 

Eleanor Maud ^^ 

Ella • 41 

Grace Lucile ,, 

Harold Don JJ 

Helen 5 

James 41 

John 41 

Maud 41 

Ray 41 

William jQ 

Montesquieu, Viscount ^o 

Montholon. Count ^ 

Montri, Celia 23 

Moore. Jc-seph B 26 

Mnran. Therese js 

Morin, Adelmer gs 

Archange gs 

Arthur 28 

Bernardetta 93 

Blendena je 

Isidore 28 

James '"^ 2s 

.loan 28 

Leo v.'.'!'.'.'.'! 28 

Lot 28 

Mabel 28 

Sarah 23 

Tobias 28 

Moross. Lulu ■•■•■•■ Ji 

Morris, Margaret i- 42 

Mory, Catherine 40 

Moaes, Adelaide iq 

Muir. MaJ 45 

Muldoon. William gj 



42 

Floyd 42 

Frank 42 

Fretlerick 42 

George ;;;;;;;; 42 

George W. 42 

Goldie 42 

Herbert ^ 42 

James K 42 

Jemima 42 

Jeremiah 42 

Leola 42 

Lewis 42 

Maria 42 

Mariah 42 

Mai-y 42 

Minnie .» 

Mrs. Sarah J2 

MuriU in 

Myrtie Jean 



Nellie Ida 4^ 



Sarah 

Senator Thomas w^. 
William 



Park . .. 
Pastorius 



.14, 1; 



39 
42 
6 
47 
47 
47 
44 
27 
42 
. 24 
, 3.S 

. ss 

. 27 
27 



43 



Edward L 43 



Mavbell 
Rev. Edward 



May, 



43 
7 

". 33 

33 

15. 16. 17, 33 



Capt •■ 

Capt. Joseph • 

James ^^ 

Joseph 4 

Judge •■■■ 33 

Judge James 3j j4 

Samuel ...'.42 

Mayer ; •"".;," i V„* 42 

McAlplne, Gertrude Helen 

Marion Edith || 

M. J • 37 

McArthur, Col 15 

G$n ; 20 

McClellan. Gen. •■■■•■■•; 31 

McClelland. Gov. Robert...... 

McClellan, Mrs. Gen. Geo. B ^^ 

McDonald 5 9 

McDougall, George 25 

Judge V „e 

Judge George "■ ^^ 

McGloin, Grace 4, 

P. C 37- 33 

McGregor. Col 23 

McGroarty, Catherine ••■••■• ,, 

Gen. Stephen J -^ 

Mrs Jl 

^^S^Sn.^?"HenVV'Eih^ingio,i:::::::" « 

McKee, Alexander = 

Col 

McMillan, Ananias 

Archie 

G. & R 

Senator James 

McPherson, Gen. James B 
McVey, Hugh 



Naggs •■■••■■•• 21 

Nahdee. Albert -j 

Bella 21 

Martha ;, 

William i5 

Navarre. Col, Francis „ 

Francis JO 

Joseph G \l 

Peter j;. 

Nelson, Lord •.•■•■• — \\: 20 

Mrs. Betsle Forsyth ^ 

Peter ..,• % 

Newberry. "Admiral ,^ 

Commodore .^ 

Oliver 15 

Newell, John 



Elson 

Ernest 

Walter Ernest ... 

Peck, Ida 

Peet, Peter 

Pegler. John 

Perkins. J. S 

Perry ■ 

Commodore 

Frank 

Josephine ^ 

Julia 14 

Oliver H JJ 

Peters, Richard -. 

Phillips, Eliza ' 4 

Pontiac ■• 54 

Porter, Gov. George B " 

Postal. Frank F 4, 

Fred V " 

Guy E \\ 

Hazel D 11 

Wellington " 

Will T 51 

Potter. Harry r,., 

Morton 44 

Sarah .^ 

Pouget. Catherine j, 

Prevost. Sir George 

Gen. Sir Geo 



'il,12, 13, 18, 20, 23, 30 
IS 



... 15 
... 15 
... 24 
... 16 
... 20 
... 16 
13, 37 



Meigs. Gov 

Meldrum 

George 
Park — 

Meloche. Archange 

Mercer, Alcinus .. 

Libble 

Lloyd 28 

Norma 2s 

Rose May |g 

Daisy 4, 

Earl JJ 

Ernest 4g 

Frank ,, 

Joseph T »° 

Philip P 11 

Richard jj 



Metty. 



Serena 



Theophile ^g 



Viola 



Zella J7 

Miller, Amelia ,7 

Caroline Augusta ^' 

Catherine Ann i' 

Charles Edward ^' 

Donald 17 

Garth 17 

Hebbard ii 

James Henry '1 

John C " 



Newhall. Supt 42 

Newton. Agnes 4, 

Albert Jj 

Alger 42 

Arnold 42 

Baby 42 

Hazen 42 

Henry 42 

Lee 4, 

Mildred J| 

Owen j« 

Sj-bil \l 

Noggle. George 44 

Ellen A 44 

Lois E 

Nondarheman 

Norton, Almena — .... 

Nottawav (In.Man chief) ... 
Now-quash-kum-mo-a.ua ... 

O'Connell. Timothy 

O'Hara. C. J 

Charles 

Elizabeth W 

Eva 

Helen T 

James S • 

Jeanette Howland 

Mary T 

Mrs 

Mrs. Charles 

Stephen J 

Orcutt, Al 

Oviatte. Mamie 

Paget, Clarence 42 

Elizabeth 4^ 

Emma 42 

Frank 42 

George 42 

Rouloph 42 

Susan 42 

Palmer, Aaron .« 

A.aron B 4; 

Aaron Charles Jx 

Alice J2 

Ann }., 

Archibald ]f 

Burt W 'J 

Burt W. Jr IJ 

C. Elizabeth J; 

Eliza 



17 

44 

47 

21 

22 

23 

23 
. 23 
, 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 23 
. 28 
. 45 

, 42 



Proctor .... .^. . . j^. .■■■ -■■ -^- ■ ■ ■ • ■- ij; -j-jj • 3J; 39 

Commandant 

Gen 

Gen. Henry .,, 

Prophet (Indian) "■ '[ 

Ramer. Lester 41 

Randall 57 

Rau, Jeanette 22 

Ray. Arthur H „ 

Delia Iris 5, 

Philip Holland ^- 

Reau ce gs 

Josie 41 

Redmond. Addle ■;■ .(. 

Reid, Catherine "■ 'I 

Konard. Francis n 

Rese. Bishop ,7 

Reynolds, S. C V. 

Rhewald. Minnie iVVc" io n 

Richard. Fr. »■ «• ;'• " 

Fr. Gabriel 10, 16. 18. 4' 

Richmond, Hattie " 

Rlckley, Jennie C ■■ 

Riley , il 

Ritchie, Adeline " 

T:ivard, Antoine •■■ '■- 

Roberts. Anthony "■ '„ 

Daniel Tl 

Frank .e. 

Leo f' 

Lucile ■■■ ■„ 

Pelagia (Polly) 34,40 

Pelagle '' 

Robideau, Annetta %L 

Benjamin tL 

Bernard ?' 

Blanche iL 

^5'^'= ll 

27 
27 
27 
28 
27 
43 



Emily ., 

T7i„*..nn ^^ 



Estelle 
Fay Everett 
Florence . . 



41 



Eva 
Isadore 
Lettie . 
Linus . 
Susan . 
Vida .. 

Rogers, Adaline S " 

Belle \* 

Burton " 

Edwin A " 

Emellne S " 

Harry \* 

Hazel \\ 

Lorenzo S " 

Reuben H ^^ 

Ruth M <' 

Roulo 11 

Rousseau. Flaget f' 

Loretta *' 

Rousselo, Clara B 28 

Rowland it, 

Rowland, Capt. Tom J' 

Rowley, Albert " 

Clara *^ 



56 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Francis 42 

Homer 42 

Wesley 42 

Ruland. Israel 25 

Sagatchowan, Moses 21 

Sandow 40 

Saugutch. Albert 21 

Savoyard 7 

Sayre. Mrs 31 

Thomas A 31 

Sihaefter. Ella 50 

Schwab 11 

Sea. Sarah Vlolette 44 

Seinger. M 

Sellars. Jessie 47 

Semack, Mr 47 

Sequin dit Laderonte, Monlque 25 

Sessions, Mrs. Florence 44 

Sharp. George B 

She-baw-gin 21 

Sheldan 22 

Sheiman 43 

Shook, Emma 41 

Sieliet. Joseph 24 

Simcoe, Gen 4, 5 

Simpson, Arthur A 45 

Carrie M 45 

Geo 45 

Hattle H 46 

William H 45 

Sly. Rachel 3. 4. Ij. C, 7, 25, 29, 33, 3i. 49 

Smith. Denison B 20 

Smith. Jacob 17 

M 42 

Maria G 17 

Mrs. Sophia Hunt 20 

Soica 7 

Stanton 10 

St. Clair, Gen. Arthur 4 

Stewart. Aura P 88 

Charles 38 

Stocking. May 43 

Stone. Laura 26 

Street, Job 42 

William 42 

Willie Frank 42 

Strong, Elisha 17 

John W 16 

Stroud, Mitty 49 

Suggitt, Alida 42 

Annie 42 

Maria 42 

William 42 

Sutler, Archange 28 

Benjamin 28 

Benjamin, Jr 23 

Carnat 28 

David 28 

Emma 28 

Leo 28 

Loresious 28 

Lucius 28 

Millie 27 

Pauline 28 

Sullivan, Agnes 40 

Mary 40 

Sussior, William 27 

Swain. Julia 48 

Aaron 48 

Swartz, Catherine 41 

Rev. Mr 41 

Tanguay, Fr 4 

Taylor, George 41 

James 41 

John : 41 

Tccumsf'h 

■S. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13, 14. 15, 20, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40,41 

Thorn 42 

Thomas, Amelia 21 

•Stafford 21 

Tm'jman, Seth P 41 

Todd, Delia M 26 

Tomlinson. Joseph 45 

Leslie A 45 

Toonder. Henry 44 

Torry. Probate Judge 16 

Trabbic, Agnes 28 

Albert 28 

Alta 2S 

Ash ton 28 

Caroline Knaggs 2.S 

Carrie 28 

Dean 2.S 

Dooley ] 28 



Edith 28 

Elizabeth 28 

Flaget Henry 28 

Gertie 28 

Gla:lys 28 

Grace 28 

Guy 28 

Hazel 28 

Ilene 28 

Israel Joseph 28 

James 28 

John B 28 

Mabel 28 

Marie 28 

Matilda 28 

May 28 

Millie 28 

Obed 28 

OIlie 28 

Orlando 28 

Pearl 28 

Peter 26. 27, 28 

Ralston 28 

Ruby 28 

Ruth 28 

Samuel 28 

Victor M 28 

William 28 

Winnifred 28 

Trombly, Artele 26 

Albert 27 

Aldine 27 

Alexander 26 

Charles J 26 

Charles Knaggs 26 

Eliza Antoinette 26 

Elizabeth Knaggs 27 

Ella Archange 27 

Florence 27 

Harry 27 

Marie 26 

Maxim 26 

Maxim -Alexander 26 

May Helena 27 

Pearl 27 

Theodore Sylvester 27 

Tiuesdell, Clarissa 41 

Henry 41 

Norah 41 

Rebecca 41 

Sarah 41 

Wm 41 

Turk, Mary 41 

Tyler 40 

Usher, Helen 23 

James 23 

Mrs 23 

Robert 23 

Stephen 23 

Valentine 22 

Van Aukon. Philip 48 

Van Buren. Martin 40,43 

Van Buren. President 20 

Vance, David 25 

Marmaduke 26 

Naomi 26 

Vandenberg, Mrs. Iva Knaggs 22 

Vandercook. Mrs. Frederic 20 

Van Horn. Maj 37 

Van Vosanova, John 46 

Vary, Mr. Banks 48 

Vealey, Ernest C 42 

Richard B 42 

Vermette, Libbie 46 

Vhay 19 

Visger, Catherine 16,17 

Jacob 9 

Jacobus 17 

James A 17 

Joseph 16 

Vrn Limburg, Baroress 20 

Waite, Louisa 43 

Morrison R 20 

Wa-say-au-bin , 21 

Wall. Joseph 47 

Margaret 47 

Ward, Arthur 42 

Leiia 42 

Rhea 42 

Wesley 42 

Wesley. Jr 42 

Washington, President 4 

Watson. John 43 

Maybell 13 



Wayne, Gen 4, 5, 34 

Mad Anthony 7, 47 

Maj. Gen. Anthony 4 

Webster, Juhn 24 

Welssinger, Ella 27 

Wells, Capt 46 

Wetherbee, Albert 42 

Alice 42 

Minnie 42 

Whipple, Capt. John 9 

Whittenburg. Johanna 42 

Whittlesey 22 

Claude S 22 

Cora Marie 22 

Frederick 22 

Granville 22 

Harry Ray 22 

Webb, F 22 

Wiles, Dore 41 

John R 41 

Lynn 41 

Sarah 41 

Wilkinson, Arthur 42 

Lucile 42 

Williams 45 

B. 48 

Elizabeth 26 

John R 26 

Lewis 30 

Rev. Eleazar 20 

Willis, Peter 21 

Wilson, Margaret 49 

Winchester 12, 13, 38 

Brig,-Gen 13 

Gen 5, 11, 12, 13, 38 

Wing, Anderson 32 

Austin E 31 

Austin E. (2nd) 31 

Belle 32 

Catherine 32 

Charles R 31 

Chief Justice Warner 20 

Ethel 32 

Elizabelh 32 

Mrs. Eliza Anderson 31 

Francis 32 

Helen 32 

Mary 31 

Talcott 31, 35 

Warner 31, 32 

Winn. S. S 23 

Witherell, B. F. H 12, 16, 39 

Judge 13 

Judge B. F. H 12, 35 

Woodbridge, Gov 31 

William 8, 15, 31 

Woods, Mrs 17 

Sarah Louisa 43 

Woodward, Augustus B 8,9 

Judge 9, 12, 13 

Judge A. B 19 

Woodwjrth, Ben 24,49 

Catherine 49 

Charles 50 

Chester 50 

Elizabeth (Mrs.) 49 

Josiah 49 

Louisa 50 

Lyda 50 

Margaret Amelia 50 

Mary Elizabeth 43 

Nelson 49, 50 

Nelson. Jr RO 

Roy 60 

Samuel 49 

Wormer. C. C 23 

Wren Mary 26 

Wright, Zelah 47 

Wrightman, Edward 21 

Toung 24 

Young, Genevieve A 49 

Helen M 49 

John C 49 

Katherine E 49 

Sadia M 49 

Van B 49 

Younglove, Bernardeau 43 

Grace 43 

George 43 

Lee 43 

Pearl 43 

Tracy J 43 

Stacey T 43 

Wilber 43 



THE 



KNAGGS FAMILY 

0! Ohio and Michigan. 

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical 




Jtmei Knitti l«<iod Tecnmseb ieti, tnd Col. SIchtrd M. JohoMii lying wauuded near &;. 



Edited By ROBERT B. ROSS. 



DETROIT : 
CLABEKCE M. BURTON, Pablisber. 
19«2. 




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